[00:00:04]
[CALL TO ORDER]
I WOULD LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE 2026 BOND ELECTION ADVISORY TASK FORCE ON THIS MONDAY, FEBRUARY THE NINTH, 2026 AT 6 0 5 IN THE PERMITTING AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER EVENT CENTER, ROOM 1405.WILL YOU PLEASE CALL OUR ROLE MARY HAGER? PRESENT? FRANCIS JORDAN.
I THINK IT'S THE AUDIO COMING.
WE CAN'T FROM OUR SYSTEM, WE CAN'T THEIR SYSTEM.
I MEAN, THAT'S ROBERT FEEDLER, JEREMIAH HENDRICKS, DONALD JACKSON, NOLITA LUGO.
[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL]
ALRIGHT, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP FOR YES.CITIZENS COMMUNICATION? WE WILL START WITH OUR REMOTE SPEAKERS AND OUR FIRST ONE IS ABBY KO.
IS SHE WITH US? SHE SENT US AN EMAIL BECAUSE SHE THOUGHT THIS WAS AT TWO.
I WE JUST GOT IT IN OUR EMAIL BOX.
OH, I DID LET HER KNOW IT WAS AT SIX.
HI, UH, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, MA'AM.
UH, YEAH, THANKS FOR, UM, THE OPPORTUNITY.
MY NAME IS ANDY BROWER AND I WORK FOR CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN DOWNTOWN AUSTIN.
I'M A SOCIAL WORKER AND I WORK WITH THE UNHOUSED COMMUNITY.
AND, UM, I, I LEAD THE HOMELESS ADVOCACY PROJECT, WHICH IS A, UM, GROUP OF HOMELESS SERVICE PROVIDERS THAT, UM, COME TOGETHER, SHARE INFORMATION, COLLABORATE, AND TRY TO MOVE POLICY FORWARD FOR UNHOUSED FOLKS.
AND OUR PRIORITY FOR THE LAST YEAR HAS BEEN FAMILY HOMELESSNESS.
WE HAVE, UM, COME TO CITY COUNTY, CITY COUNCIL AND, UM, THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
UM, THE FACT THAT THE CITY HAS NOT REALLY INVESTED AS MUCH IN HOMELESS FAMILIES AS THEY HAVE IN SINGLE ADULTS.
I I WORK PRIMARILY WITH SINGLE ADULTS, SO THERE'S HUGE NEED EVERYWHERE.
SO I'M NOT, I'M NOT DISCOUNTING THE NEED FOR THAT.
UM, BUT I THINK THE INVESTMENT HAS NOT KEPT PACE WITH THE NUMBER OF FAMILIES THAT ARE HOMELESS IN AUSTIN, WHICH IS ESTIMATED TO BE 25% OF THE ENTIRE HOMELESS POPULATION IN THE CITY.
UM, I WAS JUST READING AN ARTICLE THAT THE HOMELESS YOUTH IN AUSTIN HAS QUADRUPLED SINCE 2020.
SO, UM, OUR RESOURCES JUST AREN'T, AREN'T KEEPING PACE WITH THE NEED.
UM, THERE WAS AN EPI EFFORT CALLED AMPLIFY HOME LAST YEAR, AND THEY SAID THAT 1800 A-I-S-D-A-I-S-D STUDENTS ARE HOMELESS.
UM, AND AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, 25% OF THE ENTIRE HOMELESS POPULATION IN AUSTIN, ALL THOSE FAMILY SHELTERS HAVE A WAIT LIST.
UM, THE WAIT LISTS ARE LIKE HUNDREDS AND LONG AND MONTHS LONG.
SO THIS ALL LEADS ME TO THE POINT THAT, UH, OH, ONE MORE THING.
WE DID GET A RESOLUTION PASSED LAST YEAR FOR 50 NEW FAMILY SHELTER BEDS, BUT BECAUSE PROP Q DIDN'T PASS, THAT DIDN'T, DIDN'T MOVE FORWARD.
SO I UNDERSTAND THAT THE ALMOST STRATEGY OFFICE HAS ASKED FOR FUNDING 20 50 MILLION TO BE PUT IN THIS BOND, UM, PACKAGE FOR, TO BUILD A BRAND NEW SHELTER.
BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND IT'S ONLY FOR SINGLE ADULTS.
SO I'M ASKING THAT IF IT DOES GO INTO THE PACKAGE, THAT THERE WILL BE FAMILY SHELTER IN
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THAT PACKAGE AS THE BIGGEST NEED IN THE CITY.UM, THAT WE SHOULD PRIORITIZE KIDS BECAUSE KIDS ARE SLEEPING IN PLACES THAT ARE NOT, UM, THAT THEY SHOULDN'T BE SLEEPING, THAT ARE JUST UNSAFE.
THEY'RE IN CARS, UM, THEY'RE IN TENTS.
UM, THEY'RE DOUBLED AND QUADRUPLED UP IN PLACES THAT AREN'T ALWAYS SAFE.
SO I AM JUST ASKING THIS COMMITTEE TO PLEASE AND SURE THAT FAMILY SHELTER IS ALSO EARMARKED IN THIS PACKAGE.
UM, AND THAT WE, UM, WE PUT KIDS FIRST.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER REMOTELY IS MARTIN JONES.
UH, I BRING UP THE SLIDES, PLEASE.
WHILE I DO THAT, I WOULD SAY GOOD EVENING TO EVERYONE.
AND I AM MARTIN JONES, THE HEAD OF BOSTON STUDIOS, WHICH IS OPERATED BY THE AUSTIN FILM SOCIETY, ALSO KNOWN AS A FS.
UM, AND IT WAS GREAT TO TO MEET WITH YOU ALL, UH, LAST NOVEMBER.
CAN YOU GO FULL SCREEN ON THAT? THAT'D BE GREAT.
UH, AND I, I WAS GREAT TO SEE YOU IN PERSON.
THANKS FOR THIS ONLINE OPTION.
TODAY I'M BACK TO SHARE MORE INSIGHTS ABOUT OUR $35 MILLION BOND REQUEST FOR AUSTIN STUDIOS.
FOR THESE LITTLE BOND HISTORY, UM, AUSTIN STUDIOS WAS ON THE 2006 AND 2012 BONDS, AND WE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED ALL OF OUR PROJECTS FOR BOTH OF THOSE BONDS.
THE UPCOMING 2026 BOND FUNDS WILL BE USED IN THESE KEY AREAS, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, GREEN EFFORTS AND MODERNIZATION.
AS A CITY OWNED PROPERTY, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU KNOW THAT WE CANNOT BORROW MONEY AGAINST IT.
AND INVESTMENT IN AUSTIN STUDIOS VIA THE BOND WILL HELP PRESERVE THE BUILDINGS AND ENSURE OUR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE WELL INTO THE FUTURE.
SO, SOME EXAMPLES OF THE PROJECTS THAT FALL UNDER CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT, UH, NEEDS ARE UPGRADED WATER AND WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE, ROOFING REPLACEMENTS, UM, METAL BUILDINGS, UH, BEING PAINTED AND RESTORED.
THESE BUILDINGS ARE LITERALLY, IN SOME CASES ACTUALLY MELTING IN THE WARDENS OF OUR ARCHITECT, UH, FROM RUST, UM, AND DECAY.
UM, THEY HAVEN'T BEEN PAINTED SINCE IT WAS AN AIRPORT OVER 30 YEARS AGO.
FOR GREEN EFFORTS, UM, PROJECTS INCLUDE SOLAR AND ELECTRICAL EFFICIENCY, UPGRADES, REPLACEMENT OF AGED OUT HVAC SYSTEMS AND ADDITIONAL CAR CHARGING STATIONS.
UM, IN ADDITION TO THE CITY'S FOCUS ON GREEN EFFORTS, THERE'S A BIG PUSH BY MAJOR STUDIOS IN HOLLYWOOD TO FILM AT PURPOSE BUILT FACILITIES THAT MEET GREEN PRODUCTION STANDARDS.
AND WE NEED TO KEEP PACE WITH THE INDUSTRY, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING WITH THIS BOND.
YOU KNOW, LASTLY, UM, WE ARE IN NEED OF A LOT OF MODERNIZATION.
THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS ARE NOT ALWAYS GLAMOROUS, UM, BUT THEY ARE ESSENTIAL TO HELP US KEEP OUR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE AND ATTRACT NEW PRODUCTIONS TO AUSTIN.
UM, YOU CAN TURN OFF THE SLIDES AND GO BACK TO BRADY BUNCH.
UM, IT'S AN A FUN BRAGGING POINT THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S THE ONLY MAJOR CITY IN THE UNITED STATES THAT ALSO OWNS A MOVIE STUDIO.
AND, UM, THE EXTRAORDINARY INFLUENCE ON THE JOB CREATION AND ECONOMIC IMPACT DURING OUR 25 YEARS OF OPERATIONS.
UM, WE NEED BUILDINGS THAT CAN BE IN TIP TOP SHAPE TO KEEP THIS MOMENTUM GOING FOR THE NEXT 60 YEARS.
OUR, OUR, UM, WE HAVE 60 YEARS LEFT ON OUR, ON OUR LEASE WITH THE CITY.
SO IN OUR 25 YEARS TO DATE, WE'VE HOSTED OVER 1200 PRODUCTIONS THAT'S RESULTED IN OVER 46,000 JOBS AND HAS RESULTED IN A $2.8 BILLION IMPACT ON THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
SO SECURING THE $35 MILLION IN THE 2026 BOND WILL ENSURE THIS CITY OWNED PROPERTY CAN CONTINUE TO GENERATE REVENUE, HAVE INCREDIBLE WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PEOPLE WE'RE TRAINING, AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ALREADY IN OUR ECOSYSTEM.
AND MR. JONES, I'M THE THREE MINUTES.
THE THREE MINUTES ARE UP OVER THE COMING.
ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
OUR NEXT ONLINE SPEAKER WE HAVE, UM, A VASE.
CAN YOU HEAR US? HE'S GETTING YOUR SLIDES.
[00:10:10]
UH, MR. STILL CAN'T HEAR YOU.WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO, UM, ADJUST YOUR MICROPHONE PLEASE? OKAY.
UH, HE'S GONNA TRY AND REJOIN IN A MOMENT.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
I SERVE AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR HOUSING WORKS.
AUSTIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE AND YOUR LEADERSHIP ON B DIFF.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO SHARE, YOU KNOW, AS WE'RE LOOKING AT THE PROPOSALS PUT OUT BY STAFF, UH, FROM THE HOUSING COMMUNITY, WE SAW THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS PACKAGE FROM STAFF.
AND WHILE WE UNDERSTAND ALL OF THE DIFFICULT CHOICES THAT OUR STAFF AND YOU ALL ARE MAKING, AND IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT DECISION BETWEEN ALL THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITY PRIORITIES, OF COURSE, I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
JUST LOOKING AT THE SLIDES QUICKLY, UM, I JUST WANTED TO MENTION AGAIN THAT THE WAY OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING BONDS FUNCTION IS THAT REALLY THE RENTERS WE ARE SERVING ARE ALL THOSE BELOW 50% MFI AND OWNERS BELOW 80% MFI.
SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RENTERS, WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS, MEDICAL ASSISTANCE, HOME HEALTH AND PERSONAL CARE AIDES, SERVICE WORKERS, AND OTHERS.
AND WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT POLICE AND SHERIFF, PATROL, FIREFIGHTERS, K 12 TEACHERS AND OTHERS.
EXCITINGLY, I CAN SHARE THAT, UH, FROM OUR PREVIOUS, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOND OPPORTUNITIES, WE HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE NEARLY 8,000 AFFORDABLE UNITS.
AND I SHOULD MENTION THIS DATA IS SLIGHTLY OLD, SO WE WOULD SHOULD ACTUALLY HAVE MANY MORE UNITS BEYOND THIS WITH NEARLY 5,000 UNITS BELOW 50% MFI FOR RENTERS.
AND THIS INCLUDES NEARLY 1100 UNITS OF PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR THOSE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
FURTHERMORE, THESE HAVE CREATED, UM, OVER 500 UNITS FOR OWNERSHIP, FOR FOLKS EARNING 80% MFI AND BELOW.
UM, AND THEN REALLY WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE RENTAL OVERALL STOCK THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO LEVERAGE FROM THESE BONDS, IT'S NEARLY 7,500 NEAR MORE THAN 2000 HOUSEHOLDS HAVE BEEN ASSISTED IN HOME REPAIR.
THESE ARE MOSTLY SENIORS WHO ARE LOW INCOME, WHO OFTEN ACTUALLY LIKE THIS COUPLE HERE, NEED A RAMP OR ACCESSIBILITY IN THEIR HOMES.
AND THEN WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PURCHASE ACTUALLY 63 ACRES AND MORE.
THIS INCLUDES EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SO ALSO MAKING THAT GREEN COMMITMENT OF PRESERVING EXISTING BUILDINGS.
AND THE ONLY THING I JUST WANNA MENTION BEFORE I, UH, YOU KNOW, STOP MY TESTIMONY IS IF YOU LOOK AT IT, REALLY, WE DO SEE THAT WHILE, UH, YOU KNOW, NEARLY 40% OF OUR HOUSEHOLDS BELOW FALL BELOW THAT 60% MFI, ONLY 23% OF THEM ACTUALLY HAVE ACCESS TO HOUSING THAT IS AFFORDABLE TO THEM.
SO JUST WRAPPING UP TO SAY, WE STILL OF COURSE HAVE A REALLY LARGE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE HOUSEHOLDS BELOW, BELOW 50% MFI, WHICH IS WHAT OUR BOND SERVES.
WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO BUILD HOUSING FOR MORE INCOME THAN THAT FROM THAT FUNDING.
AND OF COURSE, I UNDERSTAND AGAIN, THE DIFFICULT CHOICES THAT YOU ALL ARE GOING TO BE MAKING, BUT I'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE COME AND KEEP YOU INFORMED.
THANK Y'ALL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
OKAY, THAT'S ALL WE HAVE, UH, REMOTE AND WE'LL MOVE INTO IN-PERSON WE HAVE MEL LEBLANC AND ALFREDO REYES JR.
IF Y'ALL WANNA COME UP TOGETHER.
I'LL START YOU FIRST AND THE TIMER.
SORRY, CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME OKAY.
[00:15:01]
YOU FOR HAVING US.UH, MY NAME IS MEL AND I'M HERE WITH VOCAL TEXAS.
WE'RE AN, OR WE'RE A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION THAT ORGANIZES LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS AMONGST, UH, A AN ARRAY OF ISSUES, BUT ONE OF THEM BEING HOMELESSNESS.
AND WE ARE ASKING THIS GROUP TO RECOMMEND A BOND PACKAGE THAT PRIORITIZES FUNDING FOR DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND SHELTER BEDS FOR PEOPLE TRANSITIONING OFF THE STREETS.
UM, THAT IS ALL IN THAT ONE PAGER THAT I SENT AND NOW I'LL KIND OF WALK YOU THROUGH HOW I GOT THERE, BUT THAT'S GONNA GIVE YOU A LOT MORE THAN I CAN GIVE YOU IN THREE MINUTES.
UM, SO LAST APRIL WE LAUNCHED OUR CAMPAIGN, ONE OF THE PIECES BEING TO GET MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OUR CITY.
AND THIS CAMPAIGN GREW OUT OF THE EXPERIENCES OF OUR LEADERS WHO ARE FINDING IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCESS ACTUALLY DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS.
AFTER ANALYZING WHAT UNITS WERE AVAILABLE IN OUR CITY, THE ISSUE WAS CLEAR IS THAT AUSTIN LACKS DEEPLY AFFORDABLE UNITS AND PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING UNITS FOR POOR AND UNHOUSED PEOPLE.
AND WE KNOW THROUGH PREVIOUS BONDS THAT AUSTIN HAS GOTTEN QUITE A BIT OF FUNDING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND THE CITY COMMITTED TO BUILDING 20,000 UNITS FOR PEOPLE EARNING LESS THAN 25,000.
AND FOR THE REST OF US, I'LL REFER TO IT AS ZERO TO 30% MEDIUM, MEDIUM FAMILY INCOME.
AND THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD THESE UNITS, RIGHT? 20,000.
AND NOW AS OF 2023, WHEN THE BLUEPRINT SCORECARD WAS REPRINTED, IT'S SHOWN THAT ONLY 426 OF THOSE 20,000 UNITS HAVE BEEN BUILT.
AND THEN ON THE FLIP SIDE, THE CITY HAS SURPASSED ITS UNIT'S GOAL FOR THE 60 TO 80% MFI BY 136%.
SO THIS IS SHOWING THAT THE BOND MONEY HAS NOT BEEN GOING TO DEEPLY AFFORDABLE UNITS.
AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE NOT SEEING REALLY ANY PROGRESS IN TERMS OF, UM, PEOPLE ON THE STREETS.
AND I DO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE BUILT A LOT OF PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, BUT IT'S STILL NOT ENOUGH.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF PROJECTS THAT STILL NEED TO BE, CONTINUES TO BE FUNDED.
AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE'S MANY POOR AND UNHOUSED AUSTINITES THAT DO NOT NEED INTENSIVE SERVICES, AND THEY JUST NEED A UNIT THAT THEY CAN AFFORD.
SO EFFORTS NEED TO INCLUDE CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN PSH AND ALSO A PRIORITIZATION OF THOSE DEEPLY AFFORDABLE UNITS.
AND THE LONGER WE WAIT, THE MORE THIS IS GOING TO GROW.
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE LONGER PEOPLE ARE ON THE STREETS, THE MORE LIKELY THEY'RE GOING TO NEED PSH.
THEY'RE GONNA NEED THESE CONTINUED SERVICES.
AND ALSO, I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG I HAVE, BUT SHELTERS ARE AT CAPACITY AND THERE IS SWEEPS HAPPENING.
AND THIS IS LEAVING PEOPLE ON THE STREETS, NO ACCESS TO SHELTER.
THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE OPTIONS FOR SHELTER.
BUT WITH THESE UNITS FILLING UP OR WITH THESE, WITH THESE SHELTER BEDS FILLING UP, THERE'S NOWHERE FOR THEM TO GO.
SO THEY'RE SUBJECTED TO SWEEPS NOW THEY HAVE NO HOUSING.
THERE IS NO PSH UNITS LIKE WE NEED REALLY TO PRIORITIZE THIS 'CAUSE WE ARE GETTING CUT AT THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVEL.
WE ARE EXPERIENCING THESE ATTACKS AND AUSTIN HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROTECT AS LOW AS INCOME NEIGHBORS.
SO PLEASE CONSIDER LIKE PUTTING THIS PACKAGE FORWARD THAT HAS ALL THESE THINGS
I'M AN ORGANIZER FOR VOCAL TEXAS.
UM, I'M HERE TO ASK THAT YOU ALL RECOMMEND FUNDING IN THE HOUSE, IN THE BOND PACKAGE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT ESPECIALLY FOR TRULY AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I WAS HOMELESS FOR SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS, UM, HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE PARKING LOT YOU GUYS PARKED YOUR CAR IN.
I'VE SLEPT IN THOSE PARKING LOTS.
UM, ONE OF THE BARRIERS WAS TRYING TO GET INTO HOUSING.
NOT ONLY DID I GET A, HAD A BACKGROUND, BUT MY INCOME FELL BETWEEN ZERO TO 30%.
MFI RANGE MEANS THERE WAS LITTLE TO NO OPTIONS FOR ME TO, FOR ME TO AFFORD DUE TO BEING HOMELESS.
I WENT INTO, I WENT INTO JAIL FOR STEALING GROCERIES.
UH, I WAS SWEPT, UM, YOU NAME IT.
YOU THINK MY THINGS WERE STARTING ON A DAILY BASIS.
THAT WAS, UH, THAT WAS THE, THE REALLY STRESSFUL PART.
AND I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT NOW I'M IN A PERMANENT, UM, 30% MFI UNIT.
AND BECAUSE OF HOUSING, I'M ABLE TO LIVE A STABLE LIFE.
I HAVE A PART-TIME JOB WITH V TEXAS AND I'M ABLE TO WORK ON MY MENTAL HEALTH.
HAVING HOUSING HAS ALLOWED ME TO DO THESE THINGS.
IT IS CRUCIAL TO INVEST IN THESE UNITS BECAUSE IT ALLOWS PEOPLE A SECOND CHANCE TO ENTER SOCIETY LIKE MYSELF.
IN ADDITION TO DOING BETTER IN GENERAL, I REQUIRE LESS SERVICES FROM THE, FROM THE CITY.
WHEN I WAS IN THE STREETS, I NEEDED CASE MANAGER.
I NEEDED BUS PASS, UM, YOU NAME IT, I HAVE TO USE CITY FUND FUNDED MEAL SERVICES.
AND THIS GOES ON, THESE SERVICES ADD UP.
AND, AND IT IS MUCH MORE COST EFFECTIVE TO CATCH SOMEONE IN THE BEGINNING OF THE JOURNEY THROUGH HOMELESSNESS THAN TO WAIT UNTIL IT'S TOO LATE.
THE LONGER YOU SUBJECT PEOPLE TO SLEEP OUTSIDE, THE MORE SERVICES YOU'RE GOING TO REQUIRE AND THE MORE LIKELY
[00:20:01]
YOU ARE GOING TO NEED.AND, AND THE MORE LIKELY THEY'RE GOING TO BE NEEDING PRIMARY SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND OTHER SERVICES RESOURCES.
BEING HOMELESS FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME IS TRAUMATIC.
I WAS ON THE, UH, I WANT, I WANT TO BE CLEAR THOUGH, BECAUSE IF HOUSING DEPARTMENT HAS RE NEGLECTED TO BUILD THESE UNITS, THERE IS GOING TO BE A HIGH NEED FOR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
AND IF THERE, AND THERE ALWAYS WILL BE, UH, BE OUR HOPE IS THAT YOU FOCUS AND BOTH OF THESE ON TOPIC OF CONSTRUCTIONS, WE, I'M SORRY.
WE NEED FOR YOU TO FOCUS ON BOTH OF THESE TYPE OF CONSTRUCTIONS.
WE WILL BE ABLE TO PUT THESE, UM, PEOPLE THROUGH LESS.
UM, ALL THESE THINGS THAT WE GOTTA GO THROUGH THESE, THESE ARE PEOPLE RIGHT NOW ON THE STREET THAT DON'T REQUIRE SERVICES AND THEY NEED, UH, AFFORDABLE UNITS.
AND I'M HOPING WE CAN ADDRESS THAT BY, WE CAN ADDRESS THAT AND NEED IN THIS BOND CYCLE, ALL THESE NEEDS THAT WE NEED IN THIS BOND CYCLE.
AND OUR LAST, UM, IN-PERSON SPEAKER IS CINDY REED.
UM, THANK YOU, UM, COMMITTEE FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE AND FOR STEWARDING THIS PROCESS.
I'M SURE IT'S, UH, YOU KNOW, VERY CHALLENGING RIGHT NOW IN THIS ENVIRONMENT.
BUT, UM, I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK, UM, THAT IN THE BOND FUNDS THAT WE REALLY CONSIDER AND PRIORITIZE FAMILY AND CHILDREN.
SO I'M A NATIVE AUSTINITE AND I REMEMBER ALL OF AUSTIN BEING IN MY BACKYARD.
SO EVEN ZILKER PARK FELT LIKE A LOCAL PARK FOR ME.
UM, BUT NOW THAT THE CITY HAS BECOME MORE DI DENSE, MORE CONGESTED, IT'S VERY HARD TO NAVIGATE THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
UM, ANOTHER PLACE THAT WAS LIKE, FELT LIKE MY BACKYARD, EVEN THOUGH I WAS NORTH OF 180 3, WAS BARTHOLOMEW POOL.
SO BASICALLY YOU COULD GET EVERYWHERE, BUT NOW, UM, IT'S REALLY HARD TO GET TO ALL PARTS OF THE CITY.
AND WHAT I'M ASKING FOR IS THAT IN THE BOND THAT YOU REALLY PRIORITIZE FAMILY AND CHILDREN, UM, AND REALLY THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.
'CAUSE EVERYBODY BENEFITS FROM LIBRARIES.
SO ONE EXAMPLE IS NORTHEAST AUSTIN IS A LIBRARY DESERT.
THERE'S NOTHING, UM, NO LIBRARIES, UM, FOR THEM EAST OF I 35 AND NORTH OF PALMER.
SO THAT WHOLE AREA IS LACKS A PUBLIC LIBRARY.
UM, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY, UM, IN TERMS OF, UH, POOL, COMMUNITY POOLS AND SPLASH PADS AND AQUATICS, AGAIN, MOST OF THAT IS WE ARE RELYING TODAY ON SERVICES THAT WERE BUILT IN THE CENTER OF THE CITY.
AND THEN THERE'S A LOT IN EAST AUSTIN DUE TO, UM, THE MASTER PLAN AND PUSHING THINGS OVER THERE.
BUT FOR THOSE OF L US THAT LIVE NORTH OF 180 3 AND NORTHWEST AUSTIN, NORTHEAST AUSTIN, WE LACK A LOT OF BASIC SERVICES FOR OUR CHILDREN.
AND BECAUSE, LIKE FOR SUMMER CAMPS, LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.
THERE'S ONE DOUGHERTY ART CENTER WITHIN A FEW MINUTES, FEW MINUTES, CAMP REGISTRATION.
LAST WEEK THERE WAS ONLY 24 SPOTS IN A ONE WEEK CAMP.
THERE'S MULTIPLE WEEKS OF CAMPS.
THERE ARE 106 FAMILIES ON THE WAIT LIST, AND IT'S BEEN THAT I'VE LOOKED AT THIS YEAR AFTER YEAR.
SO THE DEMAND IS THERE, BUT THE CAPACITY IS NOT THERE.
THERE'S ONLY ONE DIRTY ART CENTER.
THERE'S NO WAY FOR ME NEAR THE SOCCER STADIUM TO GET DOWN THERE.
BUT EVEN IF I WANTED TO, GENERAL REGISTRATION DOESN'T START UNTIL LIKE A WEEK AND A HALF FROM NOW.
SO THAT WAS JUST EARLY REGISTRATION.
SO REGISTRATION FOR OTHER FOLKS IS KIND OF A FARCE BECAUSE ALL THE CULTURAL CAMPS, A LOT OF THE NATURE CAMPS, ALL OF THESE EXPERIENCES ARE COMPLETELY FULL.
SO I'M JUST ASKING THAT WE ADD LIBRARIES, REC CENTERS IF THEY NEED TO BE MULTI-USE SPACE.
SO LIKE ART, IT COULD BE A ART CENTER, A REC CENTER, UM, A SENIOR CENTER.
WE NEED MORE MULTI-USE THIRD SPACES NORTH OF 180 3 SO THAT WE CAN HOUSE AT CAMP CAPACITY, ADD MORE PLACES FOR KIDS TO GO DURING THE SUMMER.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN CULTURAL CAMPS, FOR EXAMPLE, ARE $200 FOR A THREE WEEK TIME SPAN.
MOST CAMPS IN AUSTIN ARE FOUR TO $500 A WEEK.
SO FOR A PARENT ON A TIGHT INCOME, NOT JUST LOW INCOME, MIDDLE INCOME, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S $1,600 IN A MONTH.
SO PLEASE REALLY PRIORITIZE THE CHILDREN.
THAT CONCLUDES THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS.
[1. Approve the minutes of the 2026 Bond Election Advisory Task Force Regular Called meeting on January 12, 2026.]
WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM ONE, THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES AND ABOUT, JUST REMIND THE FOLKS THAT ARE ON, UH, VIDEO VIRTUAL TO TURN YOUR CAMERAS ON SO THAT YOU CAN, UH, BE COUNTED FOR THE QUORUM AND TO VOTE.[00:25:01]
OKAY.I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE 2026 BOND ELECTION ADVISORY TASK FORCE REGULAR CALLED MEETING ON JANUARY 12TH, 2026.
SECOND, I MOVE TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES.
ANY DISCUSSION OF THE MINUTES? HEARING NONE.
UH, ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MINUTES, UH, OF ADOPTING THE MINUTES, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND HOLD IT UP THERE FOR NICOLE WHILE SHE COUNTS FOR THE MINUTES.
AND I'LL ABSTAIN, I DIDN'T ATTEND THAT MEETING.
[2. Staff briefing regarding 2026 Bond Phase 3 engagement update. Presentation by Jessica King, Chief Communication Director, Lucero Arechiga, Community Engagement Consultant, Andres Cantu, Acting Public Communication Information and Marketing Manager, Austin Communications and Engagement.]
ITEM TWO ON THE AGENDA, WE'RE GONNA HEAR A STAFF BRIEFING REGARDING THE 2026 BOND PHASE THREE ENGAGEMENT UPDATE.TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHICH ONE'S CLOSER.
UM, CAN I FURTHER CLICK? OKAY.
UH, LUGA COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CONSULTANT, THE CITY OF BOSTON.
I'M HERE WITH, UH, ANDREAS CANTU AND JESSICA KING, CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR.
JESSICA KING, CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR.
UM, YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE SLIDE DECK.
IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT I SENT, UH, PROPOSED LAST TIME, SO I'M GONNA SKIP THROUGH A LOT OF IT.
I WANT TO GET US TO THE IMPORTANT THINGS, WHICH ARE THE MEETINGS THAT WE ARE SETTING UP THESE OPEN HOUSES, UH, FOR THE COMMUNITY.
THIS WE'LL START THE THIRD PHASE OF THE BOND ENGAGEMENT, UM, AND FOCUSES ON COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSES DESIGNED TO BRING PEOPLE IN AND GET US UP CLOSE TO THE PROPOSED, UH, PROJECTS.
SO, UM, AS YOU CAN SEE, THE FIRST MEETING STARTS ON FEBRUARY 17TH.
THAT'S A TUESDAY FROM FOUR TO EIGHT IN THE AFTERNOON.
YOU SEE THE FOLLOWING DATES ON THE SCHEDULED.
THIS, UM, HAS BEEN MADE PUBLIC ALREADY, SO THERE IS ACTIVELY INFORMATION GOING OUT INTO COMMUNITY TO MAKE THEM AWARE ABOUT THESE MEETINGS.
UM, WE HAVE STARTED WITH SOME RADIO ADS, TV ADS ADDITIONALLY, AND SPANISH AND UM, ALSO SPANISH PUBLICATIONS LIKE THE VILLAGER, EDMUNDO, AUSTIN SALVATION, UM, THE AUSTIN COMMON, WHICH I THINK YOU GUYS ARE FAMILIAR WITH.
SO THERE IS ALREADY PROMOTION GOING OUT THERE FOR, UH, TO RAISE AWARENESS SO THAT PEOPLE CAN PARTICIPATE.
WE ALSO HAVE A SOCIAL MEDIA SCHEDULE ALREADY IN WORK IN THE WORKS TO LET COMMITTEE KNOW FOR THE NEXT MONTH, UH, ALL OF THIS INFORMATION.
AND WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH INTERNAL STAFF TO ALSO AMPLIFY THE MESSAGE, UM, FOR PARTICIPATION.
ADDITIONALLY, WE ARE ALSO CONNECTING WITH OUR INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS TO ALSO LET THEM KNOW OF THESE MEETINGS.
WE'RE ALSO HOPING THAT YOU CAN HELP US AMPLIFY THIS MESSAGE AS WELL TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THESE MEETINGS AND INVITE PEOPLE TO COME IN.
I WENT OVER THIS INFORMATION LAST TIME, BUT I THINK THE OVERALL PURPOSE FOR THESE MEETINGS IS TO LET PEOPLE KNOW HOW THE BOND PROCESS WORKS, HOW WE GOT TO THIS STAGE, AND THEN GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT DIRECTLY WITH THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS WHO ARE LEADING THESE PROJECTS AND ASK QUESTIONS DIRECTLY TO THEM.
WE'LL HAVE STAFF ON STANDBY TO ALSO HELP, UM, GUIDE COMMITTEE MEMBERS INTO HOW AN OPEN HOUSE WORKS, UM, AND HELP THEM MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY CONNECT WITH PEOPLE AND GET THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
THERE WILL ALSO BE THE SECOND SURVEY, WHICH IS IN THE WORKS, UM, AND SO WE WILL HAVE THAT AVAILABLE FOR THEM TO PARTICIPATE AS WELL.
THERE ALSO IS GOING TO BE, UH, FEEDBACK CARDS.
SO THE PROPOSED PROJECTS WILL HAVE A NUMBER TO EACH OF THEM, AND THERE WILL BE COMMON CARDS THAT THEY CAN SIGNAL IN WHICH NUMBER OF THE PROJECT THEY'RE LOOKING AT.
AND IF THEY HAVE COMMENTS FOR THAT, THEY CAN ALSO LEAVE THOSE CARDS BEHIND.
THERE WILL BE SEVERAL BOXES THROUGHOUT THE SPACES IN WHICH THEY CAN DROP THOSE BOXES.
AND THEN WE'RE ABLE TO TAKE THAT FEEDBACK AS WELL AND THEN PROCESS THAT BACK AND PUT IT BACK TO COMMUNITY AND THE PUBLIC INPUT PAGE TO LET THEM KNOW WHAT WE HEARD.
AGAIN, ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT, UH, I SHARED LAST TIME, AND THIS IS REALLY HELPFUL
[00:30:01]
IF YOU'D LIKE TO KIND OF GET ORIENTED INTO WHAT EACH OF THE ROLES ARE, THE, THE ROLES THAT STAFF WILL PLAY THAT DAY, THE STAFF THAT YOU ALL CAN PLAY THAT DAY.WE ALSO HAVE WORKED ON, UH, ENSURING THAT STAFF, YOU KNOW, REMAINS UNBIASED SO THAT PEOPLE CAN PARTICIPATE IN A VERY CLEAR WAY AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PROJECTS ARE.
AND WE ASK THAT, YOU KNOW, THE BTF ALSO FOLLOWS SUIT, UH, AS FAR AS LIKE PARTICIPATING IN THE SAME WAY THAT WE ARE ABSTAINING FROM ANY ADVOCACY LANGUAGE AND ENSURING THAT THE PUBLIC HAS A FAIR OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE WHAT THEY REALLY CARE AND THEIR NEEDS THAT, UH, WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO THEM.
AND SO THAT WE CAN CAPTURE THAT INFORMATION.
WHO SHOULD PROMOTE EVERYONE? EVERYONE.
SO IF, UM, WE'LL GLADLY SEND YOU A MEDIA KIT THAT YOU CAN ALSO, UH, USE TO AMPLIFY THE MESSAGE AND ALSO, UH, SEND IT TO ANY OTHER PARTY WHO WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO PROMOTE THAT.
UM, BEFORE YOU PROMOTE, WE DO ASK THAT YOU USE THE PRE-APPROVED LANGUAGE.
WE'D LIKE TO MAKE SURE, AGAIN, THAT WE REMAIN UNBIASED IN THE WAY THAT WE SPEAK ABOUT THE BOND.
AND SO WE WILL HAVE ALL THAT LANGUAGE READY TO BE SHARED AND AMPLIFIED.
DO Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? WHEN DOES THE SURVEY GO LIVE THERE? IT'S, UH, THE GOAL FOR THE SURVEY IS TO GO LIVE AT LEAST BY THE FIRST MEETING, WHICH WOULD BE FEBRUARY 17TH.
AND THEN HOW LONG WILL IT STAY OPEN? I THINK WE'RE AIMING FOR ABOUT A MONTH.
ANY QUESTIONS FROM ONLINE? OH, I SEE EVERYTHING.
DAVE, YOU WANNA ASK YOUR QUESTION? YOU SPOKE EARLY.
COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN? UH, CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF PLEASE? IT WASN'T LETTING ME UNMUTE, I'M SORRY.
UM, SO IF A QUORUM HAPPENS TO SHOW UP, THEN WE'LL BE POSTED ACCORDINGLY.
BUT FOR, FOR THE MOST PART, ANYTIME THAT THERE IS AN EVENT AND THE POTENTIAL FOR A QUORUM, IT DOES HELP IF YOU GIVE US A HEADS UP, IF YOU'LL BE ATTENDING, UM, JUST TO BE JUST AN ADDED SECURITY MEASURE FOR US.
UM, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, WE CAN WORK WITH THE CLERK'S OFFICE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE POSTED AS AN EVENT, UM, JUST TO ENSURE THERE THERE AREN'T ANY ISSUES WITH TOMA.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ONLINE, BEN? YEAH.
UM, WHEN CAN WE EXPECT TO HAVE THAT MEDIA KIT TO START PROMOTING THESE EVENTS? I CAN SEND IT AS EARLY AS TOMORROW EMAILED TO US.
IS THAT YES, THE PLAN? YES, I CAN SEND IT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[3. Discussion of bond spending eligibility questions and other financial considerations, including review of financial Q&A prepared by Austin Financial Services.]
OKAY, ITEM NUMBER THREE, DISCUSSION OF BOND SPENDING ELIGIBILITY QUESTIONS AND OTHER FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS INCLUDING REVIEW OF FINANCIAL Q AND A PREPARED BY AUSTIN FINANCIAL SERVICES.WE HAVE THIS ITEM ON HERE AND I KNOW WE HAVE FOLKS FROM THE FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT HERE.
IF THERE HAVE BEEN ANY QUESTIONS, UH, IN ADDITION TO WHAT HAS BEEN ASKED AND ANSWERED SO FAR, I DUNNO IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS HAVE COME UP.
THE ONE QUESTION I ASKED AND GOT AN ANSWER TO THAT I DID NOT SHARE IN, IN SOME OF THE WORKING GROUPS THAT I'VE SAT IN, THERE'S BEEN A QUESTION ABOUT IF WE, UM, ARE WORKING IN PROGRAMMATIC BUCKETS AND SAY YOU WANNA DO, LET'S JUST USE AS AN EXAMPLE, $20 MILLION TOWARDS PARK IMPROVEMENTS.
CAN WE INCLUDE NAMES OF SPECIFIC PROJECTS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE RECOMMENDING A BUCKET? AND THE, AN THE ANSWER THAT I RECEIVED WAS ON THE BALLOT LANGUAGE.
NO, THE BALLOT LANGUAGE WILL BE GENERIC LANGUAGE, BUT THE QUESTIONNAIRE THAT GOES ALONG WITH IT CAN HAVE PROJECT SUGGESTIONS.
BUT JUST UNDERSTAND, WE CAN'T DICTATE ON THE BALLOT LANGUAGE A PARTICULAR, IF WE'RE GOING PROGRAMMATIC BUCKET, WE CAN'T DICTATE A PROJECT.
SO THAT WAS THE QUESTION THAT I ASKED AND ANSWERED.
ANYONE HAVE A SIMILAR QUESTION IN THAT VEIN, CHARLES? SO THAT MEANS THE DECISION HAS BEEN MADE TO PUT ON, ALREADY MADE ON THE BALLOT LANGUAGE? NO, SIR.
IT WAS, THE QUESTION WAS FROM THE WORKING GROUPS AS THEY DEVELOPED THEIR PROPOSALS, SHOULD THEY WANT TO DO A BUCKET OF MONEY? WHAT ARE THE LIMITATIONS OF THAT? MEANING,
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CAN THEY ALSO SAY, I WOULD LIKE THIS ONE PROJECT, OR WOULD WE BE REQUIRED TO MAKE SPECIFIC BALLOT REQUESTS FOR PARTICULAR PROJECTS, WHICH WOULD SORT OF TAKE YOU OUT OF THAT PROGRAMMATIC BUCKET CATEGORY? SO THAT WAS THE QUESTION THAT CAME UP A COUPLE OF TIMES.UM, AND THAT'S, UH, YEAH, I, I UNDERSTAND.
THE BALLOT LANGUAGE, CAN THE BTAF MAKE A RECOMMENDATION FOR SPECIFIC PROJECTS TO COUNSEL? THEY CAN, YES.
AS OPPOSED TO BUCKETS THEY CAN
UM, I GUESS I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHY THAT WOULD BE, AND I'M WONDERING IF THERE'S ANYBODY HERE THAT CAN SPEAK TO WHY IT IS THAT IT COULDN'T BE, YOU KNOW, A PROGRAM INCLUDING, AND THEN EVEN, YOU KNOW, I GET THAT WE CAN'T HAVE IT SUPER LENGTHY, BUT IF THERE WAS A PROJECT OR TWO THAT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE.
PUSH THE BUTTON WHEN IT COMES RED.
SHELLY KILDAY, I AM WITH AUSTIN FINANCIAL SERVICES AND KIM OLIVAREZ IS IN THE BUILDING.
SHE WAS IN THIS ROOM UNTIL ABOUT FIVE MINUTES AGO,
UM, WHAT I SENT TO, UM, MARY IS WHAT WE DID IN 2018.
IT'S GENERALLY THE PATTERN I BELIEVE THAT WE FOLLOWED FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
AND THERE'S REASONS THAT WE DO IT THAT WAY.
SO THERE'S NOTHING TO PROHIBIT THE BIFF FROM MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WHAT PROJECTS, BUT IN TERMS OF HOW WE CRAFT THE LANGUAGE FOR THE BALLOT THAT WE REALLY RELY ON OUR ATTORNEYS.
UM, AND THEN THE IS A DIFFERENT THING.
SO MARY, IF YOU WANNA SHARE THAT, UM, EMAIL OUT WITH THE GROUP, I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
I ALSO BROUGHT IT WITH ME IN CASE ANYONE WANTS TO LOOK AT THE BALLOT LANGUAGE AND THE BROCHURE, UM, WITH ME.
UM, BUT I, MY UNDERSTANDING IS, UM, AND I'M A LAWYER AND I'M FINE SAYING THIS WOULD BLAME THE LAWYER, THE BOND LAWYERS, THE FOR, UM, ADVICE ON HOW THE BALLOT LANGUAGE SHOULD BE DRAFTED.
BUT IF KIM COMES BACK, WE MIGHT ASK HER TO YEAH, YOU WRAP UP.
JUST, YEAH, BEFORE YOU GO, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING.
SO ARE YOU SAYING THAT THIS, WHAT, THAT THIS GUIDANCE IS BASED ON PAST PRACTICE OR IS IT BASED ON SOME SORT OF LIKE, LEGAL PROHIBITION FOR MERGING PROGRAMMATIC WITH SPECIFIC PROJECTS? WHAT I SENT IS BASED ON P PAST PRACTICE ON WHAT WE'VE DONE.
THAT IS GENERALLY, OH, HERE SHE, HERE SHE IS
SO YOU MAY HAVE TO ASK AGAIN IF YOU, IF YOU WANT, I'LL LET YOU SURE, YEAH.
SO, OH, I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, UM, IF THERE IS SOME SORT OF LEGAL PROHIBITION AGAINST, UM, HAVING A BALLOT, UH, HAVING A BOND PROPOSITION, THAT LISTED PROGRAM, BUT THEN ALSO SAYS INCLUDING AND THEN LIST, SAY A COUPLE PROJECTS, IS THAT LEGALLY ALLOWED OR IS IT JUST THAT IT HASN'T NORMALLY BEEN DONE THAT WAY? UH, HI, KIM LAVAR IS DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL SERVICES.
THERE'S NOT A LEGAL PROHIBITION, HOWEVER, THAT'S GENERALLY NOT BEEN OUR PRACTICE.
UM, YOU WILL MORE LIKELY SEE SPECIFIC PROJECTS LISTED IN THE BOND BROCHURE TO PROVIDE EXAMPLES.
THE BALLOT LANGUAGE YOU GENERALLY WANT TO, YOU NEED, THERE'S A, THE KIND OF A DELICATE BALANCE BETWEEN SPECIFICITY AND GENERALITY.
UM, SO YOU HAVE THE PROGRAMS LISTED, UM, THAT WAY AS THE PROGRAM PROCEEDS, PROJECTS ARE DELIVERED, IF YOU HAVE REMAINING FUNDS IN A PARTICULAR PROGRAM, YOU'RE ABLE TO UTILIZE THOSE FUNDS FOR OTHER PROJECTS THAT FIT INTO THAT PROGRAM.
THE MINUTE YOU START NAMING SPECIFIC PROJECTS IN THE BALLOT LANGUAGE, YOU ARE, IF THERE, IF YOU, IF THERE'S TOO MUCH FUNDING FOR THAT, THEN THOSE DOLLARS CAN BE USED FOR NOTHING ELSE.
BUT, BUT THAT, UM, SO THAT'S NOT GENERALLY A PROBLEM WE DO HAVE OF, OF HAVING TOO MUCH ON ANY PARTICULAR AREA.
UM, YOU ALSO, THERE IS A RISK IF A BALLOT, UM, PROPOSITION IS VOTED DOWN, UH, THERE IS A THREE OR MORATORIUM, UH, BY THE STATE ON ISSUING ANY NON-VOTER APPROVED DEBT FOR ANYTHING LISTED IN THAT BALLOT PROPOSITION.
UM, AND SO AN EXAMPLE THAT I'VE BEEN PROVIDING COLLEAGUES LATELY IS ONE OF OUR OUTSIDE BOND ATTORNEYS HAS ANOTHER CLIENT IN THE STATE WHO THEY PUT FORWARD A PROPOSITION FOR FUNDING FOR
[00:40:01]
RENOVATION OR, OR FOR THE DESIGN CONSTRUCTION OF A CITY HALL.IT WAS BECAUSE THEY WERE PROPOSING A CITY HALL IN A DIFFERENT LOCATION THAT FOLKS JUST DIDN'T LIKE THE NEW LOCATION.
THEY WERE THEN TRYING TO ISSUE COS TO HELP RENOVATE AND MEET SOME MORE IMMEDIATE NEEDS OF THAT THE EXISTING CITY HALL AND THE AGS OFFICE OR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE STOPPED THEM FROM PROCEEDING.
SO THE MORE SPECIFIC YOU GET, THE MORE YOU'RE TYING YOUR HANDS IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT SCENARIOS.
HENCE WHY WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU, UM, SET IT FORWARD BASED ON A PROGRAM BASIS AND USE THE BOND BROCHURE AS YOUR MORE SPECI SPECIFIC DETAILS.
AND JUST, UM, WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I'M TOTALLY UNDERSTANDING.
I GET THAT IF THERE'S A, A BOND FOR A SPECIFIC BUILDING, CITY HALL THAT GETS VOTED DOWN, CAN'T MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT FOR THREE YEARS.
IF IT'S A PROGRAMMATIC BUCKET OF FUNDING THAT IN THE BALLOT LANGUAGE, IT SAID, YOU KNOW, LET'S SAY FOR PARKS AND IT LISTS, YOU KNOW, TWO PLAYGROUNDS THAT ARE GONNA BE BUILT.
I'M JUST AS AN EXAMPLE, IS DOES THAT MEAN, UH, AND AND THEN YOU, YOU, YOU ALSO MENTIONED THAT, THAT YOU COULDN'T USE ANY EXTRA FUNDS IF THOSE TWO PLAYGROUNDS ARE LISTED AS PART OF A PROGRAM, COULD THEN ADDITIONAL FUNDS STILL BE USED FOR THE REST OF THE PROGRAM? UH, BECAUSE YOU'D BE LISTING THEM AS A NAME PROJECT.
THEY ARE WHOLLY SEPARATE FROM ANY OF THE OTHER PROGRAMS. LIKE SO YOU CAN'T MERGE THE TWO APPROACHES.
IT'S YEAH, IT GETS COMPLICATED.
LIKE THERE'S VERY SPECIFIC, UM, STATE LAW ABOUT HOW BALLOT PROPOSITION LANGUAGE NEEDS TO BE TERMED.
SO YOU'RE, YOU'RE, IT'S NOT, I I WOULD HAVE TO GET OUR BOND ATTORNEYS TO SPEAK TO THE KIND OF SPECIFIC EXAMPLE THAT YOU'RE GIVING OF LIKE IT'S PLAYGROUND SUCH AS X PLAYGROUND, Y PLAYGROUND, UM, THAT'S GETTING INTO A LEVEL OF DETAIL THAT I'M DEFINITELY NOT THE ATTORNEY IN THE ROOM, UM, AND WOULD NEED THEM TO, UH, RESPOND.
BUT THAT'S, IT'S CAN YOU DO THAT BECAUSE THAT IS EXACTLY THE QUESTION THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET ANSWERED AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE QUESTION THAT I ASKED.
I'M I DID NOT, NO, IT'S JUST FROM THE EMAIL FROM THE ONE I FORWARDED YOU.
I HAVE NOT GOTTEN TO THAT EMAIL YET.
I THINK IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL FOR US IF WE KNEW THE PROBLEM THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO SOLVE.
I MEAN, I THINK THERE ARE, SAY CERTAIN SUBSETS, CERTAIN PROJECTS WITH WITHIN SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT I THINK SOME PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO SEE DEFINITELY FUNDED AS PART OF THE PROGRAM.
WE'VE HEARD THE CONCERN ABOUT LIKE THE CONSTRAINED BUDGET WHEN YOU DO PROJECT BY PROJECT.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO, I GUESS, HAVE HER CAKE AND EAT IT TOO.
UM, HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY BUT ALSO SAY THESE PROJECTS WILL BE INCLUDED.
AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THAT'S DIRECT THE DIRECTION THE GROUP WILL WANNA GO, BUT WE WERE WANTING TO UNDERSTAND IF THAT'S EVEN AN OPTION.
SO HISTORICALLY, I MEAN IF WHEN YOU'RE LISTING IT IN THE BOND BROCHURE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE PROVIDING A CERTAIN LEVEL OF, UM, COMMITMENT THERE.
UM, SO IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THESE PRIOR BOND PROGRAMS, THAT'S HOW THAT HAS BEEN HANDLED.
UM, IT'S A LISTING SPECIFIC PRO PROJECTS WITHIN THE PROGRAM.
UM, CONTEXT HAS NOT BEEN DEEMED NECESSARY.
UM, BUT WE CAN, WE CAN LOOK INTO THAT IN MORE DETAIL.
BUT YOUR BOND BROCHURE IS WHERE YOU STARTED GETTING INTO THOSE DETAILS.
YOU ARE YOU DONE? BEN? I'LL BE A LITTLE MORE BLUNT IN MY ASKING OF THE SAME QUESTION.
THANK YOU KIBA FOR, FOR SPELLING IT OUT.
I WANT TO HEAR FROM THE ATTORNEYS WHETHER OR NOT IT IS LEGAL FOR US TO STRUCTURE LANGUAGE TO SAY, AND TO USE CONTINUE WITH THE PARKS AS AN EXAMPLE, X MILLION DOLLARS FOR PARK PROGRAMS TO SPECIFICALLY INCLUDE PARK A, PLAYGROUND B.
IS THAT BALLOT LANGUAGE LEGAL? TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION AS TO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS WE UNDERSTAND THE CONSTRAINT OF IF YOU HAVE NAMED PROJECTS, SOMETIMES FUNDS CAN GET TRAPPED THERE, RIGHT? UM, YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TO COMPLETE IT, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE, SO YOU DON'T START IT, BUT YOU CAN'T MOVE THAT MONEY SOMEWHERE ELSE.
THE OTHER SIDE THAT WE'RE CONSTRAINED BY IS THE PUBLIC IS WORRIED ABOUT JUST CATEGORICAL FUNDS AND NOT KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT THAT'S GONNA GO TO.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO STRIKE A BALANCE.
I WOULD LIKE TO, I'LL, I'LL CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE GROUP.
I WOULD LIKE TO STRIKE A BALANCE TO WHERE WE HEAR THE DEPARTMENT'S CONCERNS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, TRAPPED, TRAPPED
[00:45:01]
CAPITAL, GIVE THEM PROGRAMMATIC MONEY, BUT IT MUST INCLUDE NAME PROJECTS THAT LETS THE VOTER SINK THEIR TEETH INTO.AND WHEN WE'RE, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO CONVINCE PEOPLE TO VOTE FOR THIS, IT'D BE GREAT IF COUNCIL WAS ABLE TO PUT LANGUAGE THAT ALLOWS US TO SAY, YOU, YOU KNOW, IF THIS PASSES, THIS IS A THING THAT WILL HAPPEN AND THIS IS ANOTHER THING THAT HAPPENS.
AND THEN ANY, AND IF, IF IT COMES, YOU KNOW, ON, UH, YOU KNOW, UNDER BUDGET AND EARLY THAT EXTRA MONEY CAN GO TO THE REST OF THE PROGRAM AND JOINS THE REST OF THE SLUSH FUND.
UH, I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT IS NOT THE WAY WE'VE DONE IT IN THE PAST, BUT MAYBE WE'RE THINKING OUTSIDE OF THE BOX IF IT'S LEGAL FOR US TO DO IT, I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE ATTORNEYS TO, TO LET US KNOW THAT IS LEGAL OR IF IT'S NOT THEM SAY THAT IS NOT ALLOWED.
AND THEN WE KNOW, OKAY, WE CAN ABSOLUTELY ASK, UH, THE LAW DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE A, A WRITEUP OF HOW THE BALLOT LANGUAGE HAS TO BE STRUCTURED ACCORDING TO STATE LAW.
UM, BUT AGAIN, I'LL, I'LL STRESS THAT THE BOMB BROCHURE IS WHERE YOU PUT THOSE SPECIFIC PROJECTS YOU COULD DETAIL THAT OUT TO PROVIDE, SO THE VOTERS ARE ABLE TO LOOK TO SEE, OKAY, WHAT ARE WE ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT THESE PROGRAMS GOING FORWARD TO? SO WE CAN ANSWER YOUR QUESTION AND I APPRECIATE AND I, YEAH, I MEAN IF THE TASK FORCE HAS THAT QUESTION, I THINK WE SHOULD STILL GET IT ANSWERED.
UM, I DO WANT TO SAY THAT ONE OF THE THINGS HE, IT'D BE ALSO TO GET, UM, SOME INSIGHT, AND I'M NOT SURE WHO THIS IS FROM, IT'S PROBABLY COMING FROM THE COMMUNITY.
I SEE ONE, UM, PERSON WHO'S PRETTY POLITICALLY SAVVY IN THE ROOM RIGHT NOW, BUT WHEN WE HAVE A FEW CAPITAL PROJECTS LISTED, SIT ON A BOND AND THE, THE GENERAL COMMUNITY LOOKS AT THAT BOND AND SEES PROJECTS NOT LOCATED NEAR THEM, THEN WHAT DOES THAT DO TO THE BOND WHEN THERE'S ONLY A FEW? SO I WOULD TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.
IT'D BE GREAT TO HEAR FROM SOMEBODY WITH THAT EXPERTISE.
UM, ULTIMATELY COUNSEL WILL, WILL MASSAGE BOND LANGUAGE OR BALLOT LANGUAGE.
I DON'T KNOW THAT BALLOT LANGUAGE WILL COME FROM THIS WORKING GROUP OR FROM THIS COMMITTEE.
UM, I KNOW IN THE PAST THEY'VE, THEY'VE SPENT HOURS WRANGLING THROUGH SPECIFIC BOND LANGUAGE THAT WILL GO A SPECIFIC BALLOT LANGUAGE THAT WILL GO IN FRONT OF THE VOTER.
AND THEN THERE IS THE ACCOMPANYING BROCHURE THAT HAS THE MORE SPECIFIC DETAILS ABOUT SOME OF THOSE, UH, POTENTIALLY, UH, NAMED PROJECTS IN THERE.
BUT THE BALLOT LANGUAGE ITSELF IS USUALLY JUST A PARAGRAPH NOT DETAILING OUT EVERY SINGLE NAME PROJECT.
I THINK THE, UH, THE TASK FORCE JUST WANTED TO UNDERSTAND THERE, WHAT, WHAT, UM, POWER WE MIGHT HAVE TO NOT DICTATE BALLOT LANGUAGE, BUT MAKE IN OUR RECOMMENDATIONS A RECOMMENDATION THAT PARTICULAR PROJECTS ARE INCLUDED IN THE BALLOT LANGUAGE THAT GETS WRITTEN.
UM, SO MAYBE ANOTHER WAY TO LOOK AT THIS IS ALSO, AND THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION.
UM, WHAT ABOUT LANGUAGE THAT ADDRESSES SPECIFIC HIGH RISK AREAS OR VULNERABLE AREAS, UM, THAT ARE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO CLIMATE CHANGE? SO FOR EXAMPLE, HYPOTHETICALLY THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY, WE, EARLIER WE GOT A PRESENTATION THAT TALKED ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE THAT THE WAY THE CITY HAS RESPONDED TO THE ZERO ZERO TO 30% MFI POPULATION VERSUS THE 60 TO 80% MFI POPULATION.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING, COULD WE SAY THESE BOND MONEY SHOULD TARGET THIS SPECIFIC RISK FACTOR? LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, HYPOTHETICALLY THE ZERO TO 30%, YOU KNOW, MFI, COULD THAT BE, SO IN THAT WAY THERE'S, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHERE AREAS ARE, YOU KNOW, AREAS THAT DON'T HAVE A SENIOR CENTER, UM, A LIBRARY.
THOSE, IF THERE'S A DESERT IDENTIFIED IN A DISTRICT, COULD THAT, COULD THE LANGUAGE BE WORDED TO SUPPORT THOSE VULNERABLE AREAS? BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EQUITY.
SO IT WOULD BE THE SAME SITUATION WHETHER YOU'RE NAMING SPECIFIC PROJECTS OR YOU'RE PUTTING, UM, YOU'RE REQUESTING CERTAIN FACTORS OR COMPONENTS TO BE PRIORITIZED.
IT'S A, IT'S A SIMILAR KIND OF DEAL.
AND SO WHAT I'M HEARING YOU IS YOU THAT YOU WOULD SAY APPROVE THE, THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT TARGETS A CERTAIN MFI? NO, WHAT I'M POINTING OUT IS THE DISCREPANCY IN HOW COMMUNITIES ARE SERVED.
[00:50:01]
OKAY.AND WE NEED TO MAKE IT MORE EQUAL.
AND IF THERE'S A WAY TO RESOLVE THAT WITHOUT SAYING SPECIFIC PROBLEM, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WHAT SEEMS TO HAPPEN IS YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON CENTRAL AUSTIN, BUT THEN PEOPLE ARE BEING FORCED TO MOVE OUT FURTHER OUT, FURTHER OUT WHERE THERE'S LESS RESOURCES AND SO FORTH.
UM, OR THEY ARE MADE HOMELESS, YOU KNOW, SO HOW DO WE ADDRESS AND HOW DO WE ADDRESS THE EQUITY PIECE? BECAUSE I THINK PEOPLE WOULD BE OBJECTING TO, WELL THAT DISTRICT HAS A LOT OF THINGS GOING FOR IT, BUT OVER HERE IN THIS DISTRICT, THERE'S NOTHING OR LESS OR WHATEVER.
SO WHEN YOU EVEN THE SCALES ABOUT WHAT'S AVAILABLE IN REGARDS TO INFRASTRUCTURE, PROGRAMS, SERVICES, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE MAKE IT EQUAL AND, AND TO LET COUNCIL KNOW WE'RE LISTENING TO THE PUBLIC THERE, PEOPLE ARE TELLING US, HERE'S A, A DESERT, UH, THIS TYPE OF DESERT HERE, THERE'S THIS TYPE OF DESERT HERE.
CHILDREN ARE, ARE NOT GETTING ANYTHING HERE.
FAMILIES ARE NOT GETTING ANYTHING HERE.
HOW DO WE ADDRESS THAT? IT'S KIND OF LIKE WHEN I FIRST, WE FIRST STARTED, I TALKED ABOUT SIDEWALKS.
THERE'S A LOT OF AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR DECADES FOR A SIDEWALK, BUT YET WE SEE IMPROVEMENT IN OTHER PARTS OF TOWN AND WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR A LITTLE BITTY BLOCK OF A SIDEWALK.
SO WHERE DO WE MAKE IT TO WHERE WE BRING THOSE PEOPLE UP TO THAT LEVEL WHERE WE'RE ALMOST EQUAL TO OTHER, MORE AFFLUENT PARTS OF THE CITY OR THE MORE PRIVILEGED PARTS OF THE CITY.
THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING THAT DIGITAL CONTEXT.
UH, SO I, THOSE ARE VARIOUS FACTORS WHERE THE TASK FORCE WOULD GENERALLY UTILIZE THE, THE RESOLUTION THAT YOU WOULD BE PASSING WITH ANY AND ALL OF YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR VARIOUS ALLOCATIONS AND EVERYTHING.
THOSE WOULD BE COMPONENTS THAT YOU WOULD INCLUDE AS PART OF THAT RESOLUTION OF LIKE, WE RECOMMEND X DOLLARS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THAT THE PRIORITIZATION BE IN THIS WAY, OR X DOLLARS FOR TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.
SO THOSE WOULD BE COMPONENTS THAT, UM, THAT PROVIDES THAT ADDITIONAL LEVEL OF DIRECTION, UM, TO COUNCIL OR RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL AND, AND THEN ACCORDINGLY STAFF, UH, TO, FOR, TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN THAT WAY, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S AN EQUITABLE FACTOR TO IT AND NOT JUST A, IT'S SPENT ACROSS THE CITY IN, IN, IN SOME OTHER WAY.
SO THAT, THAT RECOMMENDATION RESOLUTION IS, IS WHERE YOU WOULD BE INCORPORATING THOSE, THOSE PARTICULAR FACTORS AND, AND GUIDANCE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? DON'T SEE ANYBODY ONLINE WITH THEIR HAND UP.
I AM GOING TO, UH, UH, JUST PAUSE, DELAY ITEMS FOUR AND FIVE TO PUT OUR WORKING GROUP UPDATES AHEAD, JUST SO THAT WE CAN BE SURE AND GIVE THE PROPER AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THOSE PRESENTATIONS IN THOSE GROUPS.
AND WE WILL AT A MINIMUM REVISIT THE WORK PLAN SCHEDULE TO SEE HOW WE WANT TO TAKE UP THE REMAINING WORKING GROUPS DEPENDING ON WHO WE GET TO TODAY AND WHO WE DON'T.
[6. Update from Transportation & Electrification Working Group regarding initial draft recommendation.]
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WOULD MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER SIX FOR AN UPDATE FROM THE TRANSPORTATION AND ELECTRIFICATION WORKING GROUP REGARDING INITIAL DRAFT RECOMMENDATION.I'M PART OF THE WORKING GROUP.
I'M NOT THE CHAIR, BUT KAI IS, UM, PRESENTING ON ANOTHER THING TONIGHT.
SO, UM, WE'RE TAG TEAMING ON THIS.
UM, I'M GONNA TALK, TALKING ABOUT ELECTRIFICATION AND TRANSPORTATION.
IT'S OUR, UM, INITIAL RECOMMENDATION, INVITE ANY WORKING GROUP MEMBERS TO JUMP IN IF THEY HEAR SOMETHING THAT'S NOT, UM, CORRECT.
UM, I WANTED TO START BY JUST RECOGNIZING THAT ON SATURDAY THEY DEDICATED THE WISHBONE BRIDGE AND UNITY TUNNEL, UM, DOWN AT LONGHORN DAM.
AND IT WAS JUST, IT WAS REALLY COOL TO SEE A 2020 BOND FUNDED PROJECT COME TO LIFE.
AND IF YOU ARE OUT THERE WITH THE MORE THAN THOUSAND PEOPLE WHO WERE THERE CELEBRATING, IT WAS, IT WAS REALLY GREAT.
THE UNITY TUNNEL HAS BEAUTIFUL MOSAICS IN IT, AND THE BRIDGE WAS JUST FULL OF PEOPLE ENJOYING IT.
SO, YOU KNOW, LONGHORN DAM WAS BUILT IN 1959, SO 67 YEARS LATER WE FINALLY HAVE A CONTINUOUS 10 MILE LOOP AROUND LADY BIRD LAKE, WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE TO CROSS A ROAD OR INTERACT WITH CARS AT ALL.
UM, SO, UH, I WANTED TO TALK FIRST, JUST A SECOND ABOUT PROCESS.
JUST SO Y'ALL KNOW WHERE WE STARTED.
THIS IS THE FIRST PRESENTATION, SO I'M NOT SURE HOW HELPFUL THIS IS, BUT MAYBE FOR OTHERS IT IS.
UM, WE GOT MULTIPLE PRESENTATIONS FROM, UM, TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORK STAFF, INCLUDING FOUR DIFFERENT FUNDING PACKAGES THAT THEY RECOMMENDED.
SO WE COULD KIND OF SEE HOW THINGS PLAYED OUT.
UM, THE UNIT, UH, URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION, UTC, MADE A RECOMMENDATION AND THAT INCLUDED AN, AN
[00:55:01]
ANALYSIS OF HOW TRANSPORTATION HAS USED DOLLARS IN THE PAST AND WHICH PROGRAMS AND DEPARTMENTS HAVE SPENT MONEY, UM, KIND OF ON TIME.AND AS EXPECTED, OF COURSE, WE'VE ALL SEEN THE A CAR ANALYSIS I THAT WAS REALLY HELPFUL IN, UH, LUKE'S ANALYSIS OF HOW WE MIGHT GET TO A, A CARBON NEUTRAL BOND.
UM, WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT PROJECTS THAT SUPPORT CLIMATE RESILIENCE PROGRAMS THAT SPEND MONEY EFFICIENTLY, HOW THOSE PROGRAMS USE MONEY FOR MATCHING DOLLARS TO BRING DOWN STATE AND FEDERAL MONIES, UM, THAT REALLY MAKE IT EFFICIENT USE OF THAT MONEY.
AND THEN PROGRAMS THAT HAVE MULTIPLE BENEFITS.
UM, AND THEN WE EACH INDIVIDUALLY SCORE THE PROJECTS AGAINST THE MATRIX THAT THE ENTIRE TASK FORCE HAD COME UP WITH.
AND THEN KEN KINDLY, UM, COLLATED ALL THAT INFORMATION, TOOK AVERAGES, MEANS STANDARD DEVIATIONS, DID A WHOLE BUNCH OF STATISTICAL STUFF THAT WAS ON IT.
UM, AND SO THEN KEN HELPED US CREATE A HUGE SPREADSHEET THAT HAD ALL FOUR, THE ORIGINAL, UM, BUCKET LISTS THAT WE SAW THAT, UM, HAD THE ALMOST $900 MILLION IN TRANSPORTATION REQUEST.
AND THEN, UM, EACH OF THE FOUR TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT KIND OF ALLOCATION SETS THAT THEY SET UP, THE UTC RECOMMENDATIONS, UM, THE CITY STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CAME OUT IN JANUARY AND EACH PERSON'S PROJECT RANKING AND WE COLLATED ALL THAT DATA AND TOOK A LOOK AT IT AND CAME UP WITH, UM, OUR SCORING.
SO Y'ALL HAVE THE SPREADSHEET IN YOUR BACKUP, BUT I'LL GO OVER IT REALLY QUICKLY.
UM, I WILL NOTE THAT THESE LOCAL MOBILITY PROJECTS, UM, THEY'RE LABELED THAT WAY ON THE SPREADSHEET PLUS VISION ZERO.
THOSE ARE CITY ADOPTED PLANS WITH CITY COUNCIL ADOPTED POLICY AND DECISION MATRICES WITHIN THOSE PLANS.
AND, AND SO WE REALLY WANTED TO GIVE THOSE PROGRAMS, UM, FUNDING AT A PROGRAMMATIC LEVEL BECAUSE THOSE PLANS HAVE ALREADY BEEN, UM, ADOPTED AND APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL.
SO FOR THE SIDEWALK PROGRAM, WE RECOMMEND, UM, 81 MILLION, WHICH IS THE ORIGINAL RECOMMENDATION FOR VISION ZERO.
UM, I WILL NOTE THAT THE, THERE IS A, A 10 YEAR REPORT FROM VISION ZERO THAT CAME OUT THIS SUMMER IN CASE ANYONE HASN'T SEEN IT.
IT LOOKS AT THE SOCIETAL SAVINGS, UM, FROM VISION ZERO, BUT ALSO THE, THE HARD CITY COST SAVINGS FROM DOING VISION ZERO PROJECTS, UM, AND THE MONEY THAT THE CITY SAVES IN THAT WAY.
UM, THEN, UH, FOR SAFE THREATS TO SCHOOLS, WE RECOMMENDED 20 MILLION.
AND I WILL JUST REITERATE, THIS IS INITIAL RIGHT, THIS, THIS ADDS UP TO 300 MILLION, SO WE PROBABLY ARE GONNA HAVE TO DO SOME MORE NEGOTIATING.
UM, URBAN TRAILS, WE RECOMMENDED 35 MILLION BIKEWAYS, 40 MILLION TRANSIT ENHANCEMENTS, 7 MILLION.
UM, I'M GONNA SKIP OVER ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING AND COME BACK TO THAT IN JUST A SECOND.
UM, FOR THE ACT PLAN, UM, THE ACT PLAN ALSO CORE TRANSPORTATION PLAN HAS NOT YET BEEN ADOPTED BY COUNCIL.
IT WILL GO TO COUNCIL IN MARCH.
AND SO WE FELT LIKE BECAUSE IT HASN'T BEEN ADOPTED YET, UM, WE WOULD RATHER SEE, THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THAT ON THE SCREEN.
FULL FUNDING, UM, FOR OR AS MUCH FUNDING AS WE CAN GET FOR THOSE LOCAL MOBILITY PROGRAMS AND THEN USE THAT LOCAL MOBILITY MONEY TO IMPLEMENT THE ACT PLAN.
UM, AFTER IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN ADOPTED BY COUNCIL, UM, THE COMPLETE STREETS PROGRAM, UM, THAT WAS 10 STREETS THAT HAD, UM, PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING REPORTS ON THEM.
UM, WE FELT LIKE IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR, UM, TO COMPLETE THE STREET PROGRAMS. WE'VE FUNDED IN PAST BONDS BEFORE WE ALLOCATED MORE MONEY.
SO WE DECIDED NOT TO ALLOCATE ANY MONEY TO COMPLETE STREETS, UM, NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, PARTNERING PROGRAM.
THOSE ARE SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD INITIATED PROJECTS ALL OVER THE CITY.
UM, AND THE NEIGHBORHOODS BRING EITHER SWEAT EQUITY OR MONEY OR MATERIALS TO THE PROJECT.
THEY'RE ALL IN, UM, ON PUBLICLY OWNED LAND OR IN PUBLICLY OWNED RIGHTS OF WAY.
AND THEY'RE, THERE'S THINGS THAT NEIGHBORHOODS WANT AND IT GIVES THE NEIGHBORHOODS A WAY TO, TO TALK TO THE CITY AND, AND LET THE CITY KNOW WHAT THEY WANT AT A COMMUNITY LEVEL.
UM, WE ALLOCATED A MILLION DOLLARS FOR THAT.
UM, AND THE BRIDGE REHABILITATION STAFF RECOMMENDED ONE BRIDGE, WHICH IS WILLIAM CANNON DRIVE.
UM, AND SO WE AGREED WITH THAT.
UM, STREET RECONSTRUCTION AND REHABILITATION.
THE STAFF MEMBER THAT GOT IN JANUARY RECOMMENDS 96 MILLION.
UM, BUT
[01:00:01]
WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE CITY HAS A LOT OF NEEDS AND, UM, IF YOU DON'T DO STREET REHABILITATION, THEN REBUILDING IS A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE.SO IT'S A, IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A HARD ONE.
SO WE FELT LIKE WE WANTED TO GIVE SOME MONEY TO THAT.
BUT, UM, ALSO SEND A MESSAGE TO TRANSPORTATION STAFF THAT THEY SHOULD BE USING, UM, DIFFERENT FUNDS, MAINTENANCE FUNDS FOR MAINTENANCE AND NOT BOND MONEY FOR MAINTENANCE.
UM, OKAY, SO THAT'S TRANSPORTATION.
AND THEN I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, BUT JUST TO ALSO WANNA GO THROUGH ELECTRIFICATION, THOSE LAST ONES AT THE BOTTOM THAT YOU SEE, UM, WE FELT LIKE WERE ALL VERY CARBON HEAVY AND INSTEAD OF FUNDING ANY OF THOSE FLEET REQUESTS, UM, THE CITY HAS 8,000 VEHICLES THAT THEY HAVE TO MAINTAIN.
AND THEY TALKED TO US A LOT ABOUT HOW, UM, SHIFTING THOSE VEHICLES TO ELECTRIC IS NOT ONLY BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, BUT IT'S, IT'S, UM, UH, THEY'RE EASIER TO MAINTAIN.
THEY ACTUALLY SAVE THE CITY A LOT OF MONEY, UM, IN FUEL COSTS AND MAINTENANCE COSTS OVER THE LONG TERM.
SO INSTEAD OF FUNDING THESE SPECIFIC, UM, FUELING STATIONS AND LAND ACQUISITION, WE, UM, ADDED AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH IS THE LAST, UM, ITEM IN THAT YELLOW BLOCK AT 7.3 MILLION.
SO THAT'S, THAT WASN'T REALLY AS CITY REQUEST, THAT WAS OUR ANSWER TO CALLING OUT ELECTRIFICATION IS THE IMPORTANT PRIORITY.
SO I RAN THROUGH THAT REALLY FAST IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, BUT I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND INVITE MY OTHER WORKING GROUP MEMBERS TO JUMP IN
I, I HAVE A QUESTION ON THE COLOR.
SO WE HAVE RED, YELLOW, GREEN, I MEAN, YEAH.
AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN THE DISCUSSIONS AND WE START, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS, THE TOTAL NUMBERS, ARE YOU WANTING US TO PRIORITIZE BASED ON THESE COLORS? LIKE THE GREEN ARE YOUR PRIORITIES OR AM I MISUNDERSTANDING THE COLOR CODING? UM, I WOULD SAY THE GREENER GENERALLY FUNDED THE FULL AMOUNTS.
IT WAS THE, THE GREEN, YELLOW AND RED, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, WAS MORE ABOUT HOW THEY FELL OUT IN PRIORITIES FROM WHERE WE RANKED THEM IN THE MATRIX.
UM, AND IT WAS VISUALLY SO WE COULD SEE WHERE WE AGREED ON, UM, PRIORITIES.
SO IT IS BASED ON SCORED THESE, SCORED THE GREEN SCORED THE HIGHEST? YES.
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? OKAY.
WOULD YOU, WE'RE SHARING THE MIC.
SO
I THOUGHT IT WAS PRIORITY, SECONDARY PRIORITY AND THIRD PRIORITY.
SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT 300 MILLION FOR A 700 MILLION MAYBE BOND.
SO THAT'S WHERE THE, YOUR COMMITTEE WANTS THAT WAS WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT 40% OF THE BOND FOR TRANSPORTATION.
THAT'S THE INITIAL DRAFT RECOMMENDATION WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'RE PROBABLY LOOKING AT 700 AND, AND YOU KNOW, ONCE I THINK THE THINKING WAS ONCE ALL THE WORKING GROUPS HAVE THEIR INFORMATION ON THE TABLE, THEN WE CAN START AS A, AS A COMPLETE TASK FORCE FIGURING OUT WHERE TO CUT.
SO I THINK THIS GOES TO THE DIFFERENT CONVERSATIONS LIKE WE TALKED IN PARKLAND WHERE WE KIND OF TRIED TO COME UP AT THE, THE LOWER LEVEL.
UM, SO I PROBABLY DID A DISSERVICE FOR PARKLAND.
I PROBABLY SHOULD OWE UP TO A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS WHEN WE HAD THE PARKLAND DISCUSSION.
UM, BUT I THOUGHT TRANSPORTATION HAS A LOT OF EXISTING BOND MONEY FROM THE PREVIOUS BOND, IS THAT CORRECT? DEPENDS ON THE PROGRAM YOU LOOK AT.
UM, IN THE CORRIDOR PROGRAM, YES.
A LOT OF THAT MONEY IS UNENCUMBERED AND THOSE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS HAVEN'T STARTED.
UM, IF YOU LOOK AT A LOT THESE LOCAL MOBILITY PROGRAMS LIKE SIDEWALKS, THEY'RE COMPLETELY OUT OF MONEY, RIGHT? THEY'RE FALLING OFF THE FINANCIAL CLIFF.
DID Y'ALL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET, UM, INSIGHT INTO STAFF IF ANY OF THE PREVIOUS BOND MONEY, BECAUSE IT WOULD'VE BEEN PROGRAMMATIC, COULD BE MOVED TO OTHER PROGRAMS WITHIN TRANSPORTATION, PARTICULARLY ON SAFE RIDES TO SCHOOL OR URBAN TRAILS, PARTICULARLY THE, THE, THE CAPITAL PROJECTS OF THE PREVIOUS BOND THAT HADN'T BEEN ENCUMBERED YET? I, I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER TO THAT.
I MEAN, THAT'S PROBABLY A QUESTION FOR TRANSPORTATION STAFF.
THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT I WOULD BE INTERESTED.
SORRY, I'M TRYING TO WAVE OVER HERE.
CIPI THINK IS IN THE ROOM SOMEWHERE, UH, UH, OR CAPITAL DELIVERY STORE.
UH, AND THEY PUT TOGETHER A PRESENTATION FOR US NOT TOO LONG AGO.
I CAN'T REMEMBER IF IT WAS JUST FOR OUR GROUP OR IF IT WAS AT THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE.
AND I'VE WATCHED SO MANY OF THESE HEARINGS.
UH, BUT IT DID TALK ABOUT THERE'S REALLY NOT, I DON'T WANT, WHAT I DON'T WANT THE LANGUAGE TO BE OUT THERE IS THAT THERE'S
[01:05:01]
ALL THIS MONEY IN TRANSPORTATION THAT'S UNENCUMBERED.THE VAST MAJORITY IS ENCUMBERED AND WAITING TO BE, UH, PROJECT WAITING TO BE LET.
SO IF I CAN JUST GET SOMEBODY FROM CAPITAL DELIVERY TO JUST KINDA GIVE US A QUICK RUNDOWN OF WHERE WE STAND ON TRANSPORTATION, PAST BOND DOLLARS.
UM, ERIC BAILEY, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF CAPITAL DELIVERY SERVICES GONNA SEE EVERYONE TODAY.
UM, YOU KNOW, SPECIFICALLY IF Y'ALL WATCHED THE, UM, YOU KNOW, AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE, UM, MEETING, IT'S SIMILAR TO WHAT HAYDEN IS SAYING, THAT THERE ARE SOME PROGRAMS THAT HAVE MONEY THAT IS NOT ENCUMBERED IN CONTRACTS RIGHT NOW.
BUT OBVIOUSLY OUR JOB AS CAPITAL DELIVERY SERVICES IS TO DELIVER ON THOSE PROJECTS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
AND SO WE'RE WORKING THROUGH DESIGN PROCESS TO GET THOSE UNDER CONTRACT ENCUMBERED AND IN CONSTRUCTION.
SO WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT REALLOCATING FUNDING FROM CERTAIN PROJECTS OR PROGRAMS INTO OTHER PROJECTS OR PROGRAMS, A LOT OF IT DEPENDS ON THE BOND LANGUAGE AND WHAT THAT SAYS.
UM, AS WELL AS THE, UM, STATUS OF THOSE.
OBVIOUSLY IT'S MAKING A DECISION THAT A PROGRAM THAT THE VOTERS VOTED FOR IN THE PAST AND APPROVED IS NO LONGER IMPORTANT AND WILL GO BY THE WAYSIDE BECAUSE YOU CAN'T FUND, UH, YOU KNOW, MULTIPLE PROGRAMS WITH THE SAME MONEY.
YEAH, WELL I'M TRYING TO GET IT OUT THERE BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT HAVE A QUESTION RELATING TO THIS.
THEY'VE SEEN SOME PRELIMINARY NUMBERS RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION AND HAD BEEN, I BELIEVE, SHOCKED ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WAS.
AND I, I KNOW A FEW OF THE FOLKS I HAD SAID, WELL, I, THESE ARE DIFFERENT PRIORITIES AND THE FACT THAT THIS IS, NO, THIS IS THE FIRST SHOT.
SO JUST TRYING TO GET THAT INFORMATION AND MAKE, WANT TO GET SOME CLARIFICATION KIND OF GETTING IN FRONT OF, UM, SOME OF THE COUNCIL.
YEAH, THE AUDIT FINANCE COMMITTEE PRESENTATION FROM LAST WEEK WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE TO START WITH THAT.
IF YOU HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS AFTER THAT, HAPPY TO, TO REACH OUT AND TALK THROUGH SOME OF THE DATA THAT'S OUT THERE AS WELL.
ULTIMATELY, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S REALLY A COUNCIL DECISION.
IF THEY WANNA ABANDON A PREVIOUS PROJECT, WE WILL, YOU KNOW, INFORM THEM OF THE PROS AND CONS OF THAT AND ULTIMATELY IT WOULD BE THEIR DECISION TO MAKE.
YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK THE CRITICISM WAS JUST HOW LONG IT TOOK TO GET SOME OF THESE PROJECTS OUT THE DOOR.
WHETHER IT'S BECAUSE WHEN WE'RE SELLING THE DEBT OR IF THERE'S CHALLENGES WITH THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT BECAUSE YOU'RE LOOKING AT LARGER BOULEVARDS OR WHATNOT.
UM, BUT WHEN WE SEE SOME OF THE PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN REALLY SUCCESSFUL, LIKE SAFE WALK TO SCHOOLS IN THE URBAN TRAILS PROGRAM, YOU KNOW, THEN IT'S LIKE, LET'S CONTINUE TO, TO FUND THE THINGS THAT ARE ACTUALLY GETTING DONE.
SO, BUT TO, TO BUILD ON THAT, I WILL SAY, UM, YOU KNOW, SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL AND URBAN TRAILS ARE GREAT PROGRAMS, BUT THE SCOPE OF WORK THAT THEY CAN DO IS PRETTY LIMITED.
AND SO THE LARGER PROJECTS THAT HAVE TAKEN LONGER TO DELIVER ARE PROJECTS THAT ARE MUCH MORE COMPLICATED.
THEY OFTEN INVOLVE, UM, COLLABORATION BETWEEN MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS AS WELL AS THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR PERMITTING AND OTHER THINGS.
AND ARE, UH, WHEN THEY WENT TO THE VOTERS, UH, ESPECIALLY THE CORRIDOR PROGRAM, UM, THOSE PROJECTS WERE REALLY AT A CONCEPT LEVEL AND HADN'T BEEN FULLY BUILT OUT IN TERMS OF WHAT THE SCOPE WAS GOING TO NEED TO BE TO GET THAT PROJECT DONE.
WHICH IS REALLY THE REASON WHY, UM, WE'VE TAKEN UP SUCH A RIGOROUS PROCESS THIS TIME AROUND IN TERMS OF DEVELOPING THE BOND PROJECTS, MAKING SURE THEY'RE IN A PLACE WHERE THEY'RE READY TO MOVE FORWARD.
UM, AND AS PART OF THE INITIAL, YOU KNOW, DRAFT RECOMMENDATION WAS PROJECTS THAT ARE READY TO MOVE FORWARD AND READY TO BE COMPLETED WITHIN THAT SIX YEAR TIMEFRAME.
YEAH, I APPRECIATE THAT, ERIC.
DON'T TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, BUT I KNOW YOU, YOU HAD IT AT YOUR FINGERTIPS.
I, I THINK MY ONLY QUESTION IS, UM, WITH IT BEING AT 300,000, THREE, 300 MILLION, SORRY, SORRY.
UM, MY ONLY CONCERN IS WANTING A SMALLER NUMBER BY THE ACTUAL WORKING GROUP VERSUS IT FALLING UPON US.
SO IF YOU ALL LEAVE IT THERE, THEN IT'S LIKE WE HAVE TO DISCUSS IT.
AND I THINK FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, 'CAUSE I HAVEN'T SIT ON THE COMMITTEE AND HAVEN'T DONE ALL THE HARD WORK, I THINK IF NOT JUST THIS WORKING GROUP, BUT I THINK ALL THE WORKING COMMITTEES SHOULD MAYBE GIVE US MORE THAN ONE OPTION.
'CAUSE I JUST, I'M NOT SAYING, AND I CAN SPEAK TO THIS, I WORK IN TRANSPORTATION, SO I WOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE, BUT LIKE ACROSS ALL THE WORKING GROUPS, I DON'T JUST, I JUST DON'T WANT IT TO BE BACK ALMOST LIKE WE'RE SQUARE ONE.
SO I DO HOPE WE COULD GET MAYBE SOMETHING ELSE FROM THE GROUP IN ADDITION TO THIS, THE LARGER RECOMMENDATION.
I'LL JUST SAY I WAS OF A MINORITY, BUT A HUNDRED PERCENT AGREE.
I THINK LIKE WE NEED TO DO THE WORK.
'CAUSE WE DID GET ALL THE PRESENTATIONS, SO, AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY DISAGREED THAT WE ARE GOING TO NEED TO GO BACK AND DO THAT.
IT WAS, I THINK THERE WAS A CONCERN THAT THIS WAS MORE OF A, LIKE, NEGOTIATION BETWEEN DIFFERENT GROUPS.
MAYBE I HAD A SORT OF UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE 'CAUSE I WAS ON THREE DIFFERENT GROUPS, SO I WAS LIKE, I DON'T
[01:10:01]
FEEL LIKE I'M TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, GET SOMETHING MORE.BUT I, I THINK THERE WAS THAT CONCERN.
I THINK NOW PROBABLY WE CAN GO BACK AND JUST, YOU KNOW, HONE IN ON MORE WHERE WE ALL PROBABLY KNOW WE NEED TO BE, WHICH IS SOMETHING LOWER.
WELL, AND I THINK WHETHER, I KNOW SOME GROUPS ARE ALREADY PRESENTING LIKE THREE OPTIONS, BUT I DEFINITELY THINK THE ONES LIKE THERE NEEDS TO BE A MUST HAVE, WHICH THAT'S RELATIVELY SMALL.
LIKE IF YOU COULD ONLY HAVE THESE THINGS, IT'D BE HELPFUL FOR WHEN WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO QUOTE UNQUOTE, IT'S NOT NEGOTIATIONS, BUT IT'S LIKE, LIKE PICKING AND CHOOSING AND DOWNSIZING AND CERTAIN STUFF.
I WAS JUST GONNA NOTE THAT, UM, BY WAY OF CONTEXT, THE CITY REC STAFF RECOMMENDATION WAS 251 MILLION FOR TRANSPORTATION.
OUR LIST LOOKS PRETTY DIFFERENT THAN THEIR LIST, BUT, UM, OUR, WE DID GO ABOVE, BUT NOT DRAMATICALLY MORE THAN WHAT THE CITY STAFF SUGGESTED.
UM, I KNOW HERE IN THE RED ZONE, UM, IT REFERENCES WILLIAM CANNON DRIVE PROJECT ONLY.
SO, AND IF THIS IS CONNECTED TO BRIDGE AND REHABILITATION, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE SAME BRIDGE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE GO OVER THAT HAD HOLES THROUGH IT, UM, OR NOT.
BUT I MEAN THIS TIES INTO INFRASTRUCTURE AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
ARE SOME OF THESE IS LIKE, I KNOW THERE'S OTHER ITEMS IN THE GREEN AREA, BUT SOME OF THESE TIE IT FITS THE SAME BRIDGE THAT I AND MANY MILLIONS OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE DRIVEN OVER SOME OF THEM MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY.
SO HOW DO, HOW DID THAT COME INTO, WAS IT EVEN YEAH, I GUESS I JUST, SORRY, I DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT YOU.
I'M JUST WONDERING, WHEN JUNK PUBLIC ASKS QUESTIONS, THEY'RE LIKE, WE KNOW THIS BRIDGE IS FALLING APART BECAUSE THERE YOU CAN SEE A HOLE ON THE STREET AND YOU CAN SEE ALL THE WAY TO WHAT'S UNDER THE BRIDGE.
SO IF THIS IS THE SAME BRIDGE, I'M LIKE, WHY IS IT IN THE RED ZONE? SO, SO THE RED, WE CAN TAKE THE COLORS OFF.
THAT WAS FOR US TO HELP VISUALIZE THERE, WE, WE ARE RECOMMENDING FUNDING FOR THAT BRIDGE STAFF RECOMMENDED $8 MILLION AND WE CONCUR.
SO AGAIN, THE, THE RED REFLECTS HOW THE PROJECTS SCORED ACCORDING TO THE CRITERIA THAT THE BTF AGREED ON.
AND THEN OBVIOUSLY SOME THINGS THAT ARE IN THE RED ARE STILL ON THE LIST AND YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK WE DIDN'T HAVE PERFECT AGREEMENT AS TO WHAT SHOULD BE ON THE LIST OR NOT.
LIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU'LL SEE THAT THE STREET REPAIR OR REHABILITATION IS ALSO IN THE RED AND ON THE LIST AND YOU KNOW, SOME OF US WANTED THE MONEY AND SOME DIDN'T.
UM, BUT THE RED REFLECTS THE SCORING ACCORDING.
SO THERE COULD BE A PROBLEM, PROBLEM WITH THE SCORING TOOL, MAYBE IF IT'S SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
I DON'T THINK THE SCORING DID ALL THINGS FOR ALL PROJECTS.
YOU KNOW, IF I, YEAH, IF I COULD ADD, WE, YEAH, WE, UM, VERY MUCH AGREE THAT PUBLIC SAFETY HAS TO BE, UH, FUNDAMENTAL.
AND SO THAT'S WHY WE INCLUDED IT AS LIKE A CLEAR EXAMPLE OF, YOU KNOW, THIS COULD BE A DANGER, UH, TO, TO THE PUBLIC.
UM, AND WE HAD, YOU KNOW, DEFERENCE TO THE STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS.
SO CERTAINLY ON THE BRIDGES, BUT THEN ALSO ON STREETS, UM, RECOGNIZING, UM, THEY'RE THE EXPERTS IN A LOT OF THESE THINGS, SO.
AND THIS WAS, YEAH, AND THIS WOULD BE AN EXAMPLE OF, WE CAN'T NAME THE PROJECT IN THE BOND, BUT WE CAN STRONGLY RECOMMEND TO CITY COUNCIL.
ANY QUESTIONS ONLINE? ANY OTHER QUESTIONS IN THE ROOM? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[7. Update from Investments in Facilities and Assets Working Group regarding initial draft recommendation.]
OKAY, SO I GUESS NEXT IS THE UPDATE ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, UPDATE FROM INVESTMENTS AND FACILITIES AND ASSETS WORKING GROUP REGARDING INITIAL DRAFT RECOMMENDATION.ALRIGHT, UM, I'M GONNA BRING IT UP ON MY COMPUTER 'CAUSE I CAN'T ACTUALLY SEE THAT, SO GIMME JUST A SECOND.
SO, UH, FOR THIS GROUP WE DID PUT FORWARD THREE OPTIONS.
YOU'LL SEE THEM HERE AS PACKAGE ONE, TWO, AND THREE.
UM, AND AT THREE DIFFERENT TOTAL AMOUNTS, THE LOWEST LEVEL BEING 150, 1 MILLION OR 151.8 MILLION, THEN 191.8 MILLION AND 207.8 MILLION FOR
[01:15:01]
LEVEL THREE.UM, I'LL SAY, UH, WE DID NOT SCORE EVERY SINGLE, UH, PROJECT.
IF ANYBODY'S BEEN LOOKING AT THE LIST, THERE WERE A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF PROJECTS AND THERE WERE A LARGE NUMBER FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND, UH, THROUGH OUR PROCESS, WE DID GET INFORMATION THAT SEEMED, THAT, THAT INDICATED THAT THE CITY WAS, UH, HAS BEEN IN THE PAST AND CURRENTLY FUNDING THOSE, UH, PROJECTS THROUGH CEOS AND NOT GOING TO THE VOTERS, UH, WHEN THEY NEEDED TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS, UH, FOR FAC ON FACILITIES.
SO IT WASN'T THAT WE THOUGHT THAT THERE WERE NOT, UM, PUBLIC SAFETY PROJECTS THAT, UM, NEED DOLLARS GOING TO THEM NECESSARILY.
I THINK THERE WERE IN PARTICULAR, UM, I THINK SOME EMS AND PERHAPS FIRE FACILITIES THAT THERE WAS ONE IN PARTICULAR.
I REMEMBER, I THINK IT WAS EMS THAT SEEMED LIKE IT REALLY DID NEED MONEY, BUT IT ALSO SEEMED LIKELY THAT, UH, IT WAS GONNA GET PAID FOR ANYWAY.
SO WE DID NOT SCORE THOSE PROJECTS.
SO JUST, YOU KNOW, UM, WANTED PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT UPFRONT.
UM, AND THEN WE ALSO DID JUST KIND OF ELIMINATE OFF THE TOP OF THE DOUGHERTY ARTS CENTER, UM, BECAUSE IT WAS AT LEAST OUR VIEW THAT, UM, THE PROJECT COULD BE DONE JUST AT A SCALED BACK VERSION WITH THE MONEY THAT WAS ALREADY THERE.
AND AS YOU SEE THE NUMBERS FOR THE FACILITIES, UM, IT DOESN'T GO VERY FAR.
AND SO WE FELT THAT PROJECTS THAT THAT COULD BE DONE WITHOUT A BOND, UH, WE WERE GONNA ELIMINATE.
AND SO IT WAS A DIFFERENT REASON THAT IT COULD BE DONE WITHOUT A NEW BOND.
SO, UM, AND WE PRETTY MUCH, UH, REALLY WENT WITH, WITH THE SCORING IN TERMS OF, OF KIND OF THE ORDER OF PRIORITIZATION.
SO IN PACKAGE ONE YOU'LL SEE THE COLONY PARK, UH, PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER, THE NORTHEAST PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER, AND THE COLONY PARK BRANCH LIBRARY.
UM, THOSE FIRST TWO, UM, SCORED REALLY HIGH BECAUSE, UH, THEY DO HAVE THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, HEALTH AND, AND, AND PUBLIC KIND OF SAFETY, UH, OR PUBLIC PUBLIC HEALTH SORT OF ASPECT.
SO THEY, UM, TO OUR MIND ARE REALLY JUST ESSENTIAL SERVICES FOR PEOPLE THAT, THAT NEED HEALTHCARE.
UM, AS MUCH AS WE MAY WANT TO FUND ALL OF THE THINGS ON THE LIST THAT FELT MORE, UH, CRUCIAL AND, AND CAME THROUGH IN THAT WAY IN TERMS OF THE EQUITY AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THE EQUITY SCORING ESPECIALLY.
AND ALSO, UM, THEN THE PUBLIC LIBRARY, UH, SCORED WELL ON EQUITY AND ALSO, UM, SCORED VERY WELL ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMPONENTS BECAUSE A PL HAS REALLY GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND, UM, IN THE PAST AND WITH ITS CURRENT PROPOSALS IN TERMS OF DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO REDUCE THEIR CARBON FOOTPRINT AND OVERALL IMPROVE, UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK MAXIMIZE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE BUILDINGS.
SO, UM, OF ALL THE PROJECTS THAT WERE PRESENTED, THEY REALLY KINDA STOOD OUT AS, UM, INTEGRATING SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES INTO THE BUILDING.
UM, AND THAT, YOU KNOW, ALSO DOES, UH, GET REFLECTED WHEN YOU LOOK AT ACARS, UH, LIFECYCLE GREENHOUSE GAS ANALYSIS.
SO THOSE ARE THE THREE THAT YOU SEE THERE IN PACKAGE NUMBER ONE.
AND THEN FOR PACKAGE NUMBER TWO, WE JUST ADDED A SINGLE PROJECT, UM, REALLY TRYING TO MAKE THIS INCREMENTAL AS WE MOVE THROUGH OUR PROCESS AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THE BUCKET OF MONEY FOR FACILITIES IS.
ANIMAL SERVICES CENTER OR ANIMAL SERVICE CENTER.
UM, THAT ONE ALSO, UM, SCORED, SCORED HIGH, UM, IN PART BECAUSE, UH, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS, THERE WAS OBVIOUSLY A CLEAR NEED AND, UM, I THINK ALSO PERHAPS SOME KIND OF HEALTH RELATED ISSUES THERE OF NOT HAVING LIKE A BUNCH OF ANIMALS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY THAT, THAT MIGHT BE CAUSING PROBLEMS. AND THAT ONE ALSO, UH, IS ONE THAT WE HAD ALL OBSERVED, UM, PUBLIC, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR, NOT JUST WITHIN THIS PROCESS, BUT MORE BROADLY.
UM, THERE HAVE BEEN LOTS OF PEOPLE SHOWING UP AT CITY HALL OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS RELATED TO ANIMAL SERVICES AND THE OVERCROWDING AND, AND ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT THEY'VE HAD BECAUSE OF THAT.
SO THAT'S PACKAGE TWO'S, JUST ADDING THOSE EXPANSIONS TO THAT CAMPUS FOR ANIMAL SERVICES.
THEN FOR PACKAGE THREE, THERE ARE TWO ADDITIONAL, UH, PROJECTS.
AND AGAIN, YOU KNOW, PRETTY MUCH, UH, JUST FOLLOWING THE KIND OF SCORING ORDER, UM, THE MUNICIPAL COURT AND THE GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER MUSEUM PHASES ONE A AND ONE
[01:20:01]
B, UM, AND YOU'LL SEE THAT THAT ADDS ANOTHER, THOSE TWO PROJECTS TOGETHER ADD ANOTHER 16 MILLION.SO THERE'S NOT A HUGE JUMP BETWEEN PACKAGE TWO AND THREE, BUT AGAIN, TRYING TO PROVIDE SOME INCREMENTAL STEPS FOR EVERYBODY AS WE WORK THROUGH.
QUESTIONS, UH, LUKE? YEAH, THE, UM, SO CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT, UM, I DON'T THINK NONE OF THE ONES THAT YOU RECOMMENDED WERE ON THE CITY STAFF RECOMMENDATION, RIGHT? UH, IN TERMS OF THE, I HONESTLY, I DON'T HAVE THAT IN FRONT OF ME.
AND SO I'M CURIOUS THOUGH, DID THIS, WAS THIS ALSO HIGHLY RATED BY THE DEPARTMENTS AND IT, IT, IT JUST DIDN'T MAKE THE CUT WITH THE CITY MANAGER, BUT IT WAS STILL, SO I THINK WHEN WE WERE DOING OUR SCORING, IT WAS BEFORE WE HAD THAT LIST.
UM, SO WE WERE GOING BY THE RANKING, THE DEPARTMENT PRIORITIES IN THE EMERGE IN THE LIST THAT WE GOT BACK IN JULY.
SO YOU'LL SEE COLUMN E THERE IS DEPARTMENT PRIORITY, AND UM, I THINK ALL OF THESE WERE EITHER A ONE OR A TWO ON THE DEPARTMENT PRIORITY.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE WERE LOOKING AT.
UM, PARTIALLY BECAUSE WE WERE SUPPOSED TO PRESENT, AS YOU MAY RECALL, ON THE 26TH.
SO WE, UM, WE DID OUR WORK IN ADVANCE OF THAT, SO DIDN'T REVISIT.
WELL, I, YEAH, I NOTE THAT, UM, THE ONE THAT WAS RECOMMENDED, UH, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW BROAD FACILITIES IS BEING DEFINED BY YOUR WORK GROUP, BUT THE ONE THAT WAS RECOMMENDED WAS, UH, HAMPTON AT OAK HILL BRANCH, WHICH IS AT A LIBRARY.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW IT IS A LIBRARY.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, I THINK HONESTLY MOST OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE GOT PRESENTED
THAT ONE DEFINITELY SEEMS LIKE, YEAH, THE LIBRARY'S BEING VERY WELL USED AND COULD USE ADDED CAPACITY.
UM, BUT WE FELT LIKE, UM, YOU KNOW, COLONY PARK DOESN'T HAVE A LIBRARY, LIKE AT LEAST THEY HAVE A LIBRARY AGAIN, KIND OF LIKE THE DIRTY ARTS CENTER.
NOT THAT WE DON'T WANT IT TO BE BIGGER AND ALL SUMMER AND ALL THAT, BUT UM, THEY HAVE A LIBRARY VERSUS NO LIBRARY.
AND, UM, ALSO WE'RE LOOKING FOR SOME KIND OF EFFICIENCY AND SYNERGIES WITH, UM, HAVING THE COLONY PARK PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER AND THE LIBRARY BECAUSE THEY ARE PROPOSED TO BE RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER.
SO THEY WOULD AT LEAST LIKE SHARE PARKING FACILITIES.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, I THINK THE CITY STAFF HAVE INDICATED THAT IF THEY DID GO, BOTH GET FUNDED, THAT THEY MAY IN SOME WAY BE INTEGRATED FURTHER EVEN THAN THEY ARE CURRENTLY PROPOSED.
THEY DIDN'T PUT IT FORWARD THAT WAY BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT LIKE THEM BOTH TO DIE IF ONE DIDN'T MOVE.
UM, BUT THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, WHY THAT ONE GOT PRIORITIZED OVER OAK HILL.
AND THEN, SORRY IF I, I CAN KEEP GOING.
IT LOOKS LIKE THE ANIMAL SERVICE CENTER DID, UH, WAS ON THE CITY STAFF RECOMMENDATION JUST AT 3 MILLION THOUGH, AND I THINK Y'ALL HEADED IT A LITTLE HIGHER, RIGHT? WE WENT WITH WHAT WAS REQUESTED AGAIN, WE WERE WORKING OFF THE ORIGINAL AND THEY HAD A REQUESTED 40 MILLION.
UM, I THINK THEY WERE, I'M GOING FROM MEMORY.
SO, UM, THERE WAS LIKE THREE OR FOUR DIFFERENT EITHER EXTENSIONS TO THE BUILDING AND ONE OF THEM IS LIKE A NEW BUILDING.
SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT 3 MILLION, HONESTLY.
AND THEN LAST QUESTION, SORRY.
UH, DID YOUR GROUP WORKING GROUP INCLUDE UH, THINGS LIKE FIRE STATIONS, POLICE STATIONS, UH, HOMELESS SHELTERS, OR THAT, IS THAT A DIFFERENT WORK GROUP? SO FIRE POLICE AND EMS? YES, AND THAT'S WHAT I WAS SPEAKING TO AT THE BEGINNING WITH THE, WE WE CALLED THOSE ALL PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND IT APPEARED THAT THAT'S WHAT THE CITY HAS BEEN DOING.
AND THEN WE ALSO, YOU KNOW, HEARD THIS COMMENTS ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, IF, IF IT FAILS THEN THE CITY CAN'T GO UCOS, ALTHOUGH IT'S UNCLEAR TO ME IF THAT APPLIES TO PROGRAMMATIC MONEY OR WHAT, BUT, UM, THEY WERE PUT TO US AS INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS.
UM, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT STEPH POSITION IS AT THIS POINT, BUT IT WAS OUR POSITION THAT, YOU KNOW, IF THE CITY HAS BEEN DOING IT IN THIS OTHER WAY, CAN DO IT IN THIS OTHER WAY THAT LIKE WHAT, WHY, WHY WOULD WE PRIORITIZE THAT IN THIS PROCESS IF THEY'RE NOT GONNA USE THAT SAME STRATEGY SAFER FOR A LIBRARY OR PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER? YEAH.
KIM, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD TO THAT? YEAH, I JUST, I WANTED TO NOTE THAT, UM, FOR CEOS THOSE ARE, WOULD COUNT AGAINST THE SAME DEBT CAPACITY AS VOTER APPROVED BONDS.
IT'S ALL FOR THE GEO DEBT CREDIT.
UM, SO THERE IS NOT ADDITIONAL CEO CAPACITY BEYOND THAT 750 MILLION.
[01:25:01]
SO THERE'S NOT REALLY EVEN SPACE FOR THOSE PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITIES TO BE FUNDED IN THAT WAY.JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT Y'ALL ARE CLEAR ON THAT.
IF, IF THAT CHANGES ANY, HOW YOU MIGHT PRIORITIZE AMONGST THE, THOSE FACILITIES.
I DON'T THINK IT WAS SO MUCH ABOUT LIKE THINKING THAT THERE WAS ADDITIONAL CAPACITY JUST AS THE MECHANISM, LIKE IS THERE A, A LOGIC FOR GOING TO THE VOTERS AS OPPOSED TO NOT NOT, BUT WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S ALL COMING OUTTA THE SAME BUCKET OF MONEY.
OTHER QUESTIONS FOR KABA? ANYBODY ONLINE HAVE A QUESTION? I WILL POINT OUT THAT WE HAD BROAD AGREEMENT IN THE FACILITY WORK GROUP ON THIS PACKAGE.
I DO THAT ON THE, WHICH PACKAGE? THE PACKAGE ONE
THE WAY, THE WAY IT'S BROKEN DOWN LIKE THIS.
JUST ALWAYS ASSUME I HAVE A QUESTION,
SO ON THIS ONE, UM, HOW DOES THE COLONY PARK HEALTH CENTER, WHICH I'M TOTALLY SUPPORT, BUT HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM THE CENTRAL HEALTH, UH, NEW COLONY PARK HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER? THAT'S LOOKS LIKE IT'S EXPECTED TO OPEN IN SEPTEMBER 27 AT 37 MILLION? GOOD QUESTION.
MAYBE SOMEBODY FROM STAFF CAN ANSWER THAT.
WE DID NOT GET ANY PRESENTATION SPECIFICALLY ON THAT.
I'M GONNA JUST HANG OUT HOW YOU HAVE HERE.
UH, SO CENTRAL HEALTH, UM, SINCE THEY'RE FUNDED BY A SEPARATE TAX RATE, THEY HAVE A VERY SPECIFIC SCOPE OF SERVICES AND MEDICAL CARE TYPE SERVICES THAT THEY CAN PROVIDE.
THE PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER IS, IS THEY'RE VERY DIFFERENT TYPES OF SERVICES, UM, SUCH AS WIC AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, SO THERE'S DEFINITELY A, A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN THE, THE SERVICES PROVIDED AND IT'S NOT A REDUNDANT KIND OF A DEAL.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE CENTRAL HEALTH FACILITY WILL INCLUDE A PHARMACY AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT OUR PUBLIC HEALTH, UM, CENTERS WOULD, WOULD BE DOING.
SO WHAT, WHAT WOULD BE THE PUBLIC HEALTH 'CAUSE RIGHT NOW I'M SEEING ADULT PRIMARY CARE, DENTAL SERVICES, PHARMACY, LAB SERVICES, WELLNESS PROGRAMS, COMMUNITY ROOMS, ELIGIBILITY ENROLLMENT SERVICES FOR THE CENTRAL HEALTH FACILITY.
IS IT JUST BECAUSE IT'S LIMITING THE POPULATION AND DOES THAT POPULATION AROUND COLONY PARK EXTEND BEYOND THE POPULATION THAT'S CENTRAL HEALTH IS SERVING? IT'S, IT'S NOT A POPULATION BEING SERVED FACTOR, IT'S JUST THEY HAVE, THEY'RE PROVIDING DIRECT MEDICAL CARE, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO CENTRAL HEALTH.
AND THAT'S NOT WHAT OUR PUBLIC HEALTH, UM, PROGRAMS ARE DOING.
UH, SO THAT'S THE, OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, THAT'S THE BEST, UM, DIFFERENTIATION I CAN PROVIDE.
SO I GUESS AT SOME POINT I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR WHAT'S THE PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE PROVIDING THAT THEY DON'T? SO ACTUALLY SPECIFIC, UM, JUST DOWN DOWN THE LINE ON THAT.
AND THEN I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION ON NORTHEAST ON I AGREE ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY STRATEGY, PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU'RE PAST LIKE FOUR YEARS OUT WITHIN A BOND PROGRAM, ASSUMING IT'S A SIX YEAR BOND PROGRAMMING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN NOW PROPERTY VALUES GO UP AND MAYBE ALLOWS FOR SOME ADDITIONAL DEBT THROUGH CO.
BUT I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM, IF POSSIBLE, I DON'T KNOW IF ERIC HAS THE ANSWER ON THIS ONE, BUT ON THE, ON CDS IS RECOMMENDATION AT THE 3 MILLION, I'D LIKE TO GET A LITTLE BIT MORE SPECIFIC INFORMATION RELATING, RELATING TO THE BETTY DUNKER LEE CAMPUS AND TO SEE WHAT THAT, WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT.
AND ERIC BAILEY, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, CAPITAL DELIVERY SERVICES, UM, WHEN IT COMES TO THE ANIMAL SERVICES MONEY THAT'S PUT IN THERE, THAT $3 MILLION IS REALLY TO GET THEM IN A GOOD PLACE SET UP FOR THE NEXT BOND PROGRAM TO HAVE A FULLY DEVELOPED SET OF PLANS TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT FOR CONSTRUCTION.
RIGHT NOW THERE'S A LOT OF KIND OF GOOD CONCEPTS AROUND THERE, BUT NOTHING THAT'S REALLY PEN TO PAPER REALLY DEVELOPED, UH, THOUGHTFULNESS THAT WE THINK WE CAN DELIVER IN THAT SIX YEAR TIMEFRAME.
SO THAT'S REALLY WHAT THE $3 MILLION IS FOR, IS TO GET THEM IN A BETTER PLACE FOR THE NEXT GO ROUND AND POTENTIALLY DO SOME, UH, YOU KNOW, MUCH NEEDED, SMALLER IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FACILITY.
APPRECIATE THANKS FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
I'M A BIG SUPPORTER OF THAT PROJECT OF THE 40 MILLION, SO MM-HMM.
RICH, I DID PULL UP THE AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH PRESENTATION, UM, AND THEY DO HAVE KIND OF A, A LIST OF THEIR SERVICES HERE.
UM, LOW COST VACCINATIONS, HEALTH SCREENINGS, INFANT AND MATERNAL HEALTH, BIRTH AND DEATH CERTIFICATES, DIABETES EDUCATION AND PREVENTION CLASSES, FOOD SHARK, RESTAURANT POOL, WATER FEATURE INSPECTIONS, MOSQUITO
[01:30:01]
TESTING AND ABATEMENT, RENT ASSISTANCE, FOOD PANTRIES, JOB APPLICATION SUPPORT, WIC CLINICS.UM, I'M NOT SURE WHAT NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS MEANS SHOTS FOR TOTS, BIG SHOTS, CLINICS, SEXUAL HEALTH CLINIC.
UM, I MEAN I THINK SOME OF THESE ARE DIFFERENT SPECIFIC, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT ALL OF THIS, I, I NEED TO REMIND MYSELF WHAT ALL WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THAT FACILITY, BUT I THINK IT'S MORE THAT KINDA STUFF AS OPPOSED TO THE PRIMARY CARE THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE CENTRAL HEALTH IS, AND THEY HAD WELLNESS PROGRAMS AND SOME OTHER THINGS AT CENTRAL HEALTH, BUT WE CAN DIVE INTO IT IN MUCH MORE LATER ON.
UM, YEAH, IT'S A VALID QUESTION.
THERE'S STILL, THERE'S STILL A SMALLER POPULATION WE'RE LOOKING IN THE AREA, SO HOW MANY, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THAT SQUARE FOOTAGE THAT YOU'RE SERVING? I GUESS THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE IN, UM, PROBABLY FINANCIAL SERVICES MIGHT BE ABLE TO ANSWER THIS, IS ON THE TOURS FOR COLONY PARK.
SO, YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE IT WAS A LITTLE OVER 258 MILLION, SOMETHING AROUND THERE ON THE CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT THEY'RE LOOKING THROUGH THE TOURS AND I THINK HALF OF IT WAS FUNDED THROUGH THE TUR OR MAYBE THET WHERE I'M GETTING AT, I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PUBLIC BENEFIT IS FROM THE TOURS OUTSIDE OF JUST CIVIL INFRASTRUCTURE THAT, OR IS THAT WHAT IT IS WE'RE DOING? YOU'RE REDUCING CIVIL INFRASTRUCTURE, RECEIVING SOME OF THE COSTS, ABLE TO HAVE A LOWER MFI FOR THE HOUSING.
'CAUSE I WOULD'VE FIGURED LIKE ON THE TOURS WOULD'VE BEEN A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO PUT IN THE LIBRARY OR PUT IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITY.
I WOULD'VE LOVED TO HAVE INCLUDED THOSE FACILITIES IN THE CHURCH.
BUT THE CHURCH IS MAXED OUT ON JUST PROVIDING THE BASE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS FOR THE OVERALL DEVELOPMENT, UM, ACCESS TO VARIOUS UTILITIES PLUS ALL THE ROADS, NETWORKS AND AND WHATNOT ARE, YOU JUST DON'T, THERE'S NONE OF THAT IN THAT AREA.
UM, SO WHEN WE DO A TOURS, WE ACTUALLY HAVE FINANCIAL POLICIES AROUND EXPECTATIONS ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BOTH FOR HOME OWNERSHIP AND, UH, RENTAL.
SO AS PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH, UH, BABAR THE DEVELOPER, OUR DEVELOPER PARTNER, THEY HAVE, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING REQUIREMENTS.
THEY HAVE TO MEET, THEY ALSO WILL BE PROVIDING, UH, UM, EXTENSIVE PARK, UH, AMENITIES AND IMPROVEMENTS.
UM, SO THE, ALL THE, THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT IS, IS BAKED INTO THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT AS A WHOLE AND THE TS IS A MAJOR FACTOR TO MAKE THE OVERALL DEVELOPMENT VIABLE.
UM, WE TYPICALLY UTILIZE THOSE TSS TO SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS BECAUSE THAT IS A VERY CLEAR AND UH, STRONG USE OF STATE OF, OF AURS RELATIVE TO STATE LAW.
AND SO THAT'S WHERE IT'S, LOOK AT THE PUBLIC BENEFIT BEING THAT MFI THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
IF, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE I WAS LIKE WE WERE ALLOWED TO DO THAT INFRASTRUCTURE, THERE'S NO WAY THEY COULD BE REALLY BE ABLE TO INCORPORATE THE, TO MAKE THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPONENTS WORK.
THAT'S WHAT I WAS REALLY CURIOUS.
UM, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE YOU WANT A BENEFIT, RIGHT? IF, IF YOU'RE AT THE MARKET RATE, THE MARKET RATE'S, PUTTING IT ALL IN PART OF THAT, THOSE ROADS AND THE SEWERS AND EVERYTHING AND NOT LOOKING FOR THE TURS, BUT THAT BENEFIT IS CREATING THAT MFI MM-HMM
AND I HAD TO DO SOME FINANCIAL GYMNASTICS TO, TO MAKE ALL THAT WORK.
SO I WOULD, I LOOK, I REALLY WISH I COULD HAVE FIT THOSE FACILITY COMPONENTS IN THERE TOO.
DID I MISS IT? UH, THE ANSWER ON THE ANIMAL SERVICE CENTER AT 40 MILLION, IS THAT A SCOPED PROJECT OR IS THAT A WISHLIST PROJECT OR IS THAT, LIKE, IS IT SOMETHING THAT IF WE SAID YES TO THE VOTER SAID YES TO THAT PROJECT COULD TURN OUT? OR IS IT SOMETHING THAT STILL NEEDS TO BE SCOPED? THAT WAS ONE OF THE ISSUES WITH THE ANIMAL SERVICES REQUEST, IS THAT THERE'S NOT A FULLY DEVELOPED SCOPE FOR THAT PROJECT AND THAT'S WHY WE PUT FORWARD THE LESSER AMOUNT SO THAT THEY COULD GET TO A POINT WHERE IT DOES HAVE A FULLY DEVELOPED PROJECT READY TO GO FOR THE NEXT, UH, BOND ELECTION.
SO WOULD THIS COMMITTEE BE AMENABLE TO REVISITING THAT? I WOULD BE
I MEAN, IT'S MY HOPE THAT ALL THE
UM, I DID, I DID BRING UP THE LIST SPECIFICALLY FOR COLONY PARK PUBLIC HEALTH THAT IT LOOKS LIKE, AND IT REMINDED ME THAT THE CHILDCARE CENTER IS ALSO PART OF THAT, UM, FACILITY.
SO IT'S, IT'S HEALTH AND CHILDCARE TOO.
SO I HAVE A QUESTION FOR STAFF.
UM, HOW SOON, LIKE IF THIS BOND IS PASSED, YOU KNOW, FOR COLONY NORTH, UM, YEAH, COLONY PARK, HOW SOON DOES THE STAFF OR Y'ALL START LOOKING AT STAFFING THE BUILDING? BECAUSE I KNOW WHEN WE GOT OUR BOND FOR THE SOUTHEAST AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITY, WE STARTED TO PANIC WHEN WE REALIZED
[01:35:01]
UHOH WE'VE GOT A BUILDING, BUT WE DON'T HAVE STAFF SO THE OPERATION BECOMES AN ISSUE.SO HOW DO Y'ALL NAVIGATE THAT? BECAUSE THE WORST CASE SCENARIOS, YOU'VE GOTTA BEAUTIFUL BUILDING READY TO DO THIS, DESIGNED TO PROVIDE THIS AND THAT, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE STAFF AND I KNOW I'M NERVOUS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THINGS ARE COMING ALONG AND WHAT DO WE NEED TO BE PREPARED AND WHAT CAN WE TRULY DELIVER VERSUS YEAH.
SO, UM, WITH COLONY PARK, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS KIND OF FORTUNATE IS THAT THERE'S A MUCH, UH, MORE SPECIFIC SCHEDULE TO HOW ALL THE CONSTRUCTION IS TAKING PLACE ON THAT SITE.
UM, SO WE WOULD HAVE A MUCH CLEARER IDEA OF THE TIMING OF A PUBLIC HEALTH AND OR LIBRARY FACILITY IN THAT OVER PROJECT.
AS A RESULT, THEN WE'RE ABLE TO INCO HAVE THE DEPARTMENTS INCORPORATE THOSE REQUESTS AS PART OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET PROCESS.
UM, THAT BEING SAID, UM, OF COURSE THE OPERATING BUDGET IS CHALLENGED TO SAY THE LEAST RIGHT NOW.
UH, THAT WAS A BIG DRIVER FOR THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION, UM, TO BE PUTTING FORWARD PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS THAT DON'T HAVE AN OPERATING BUDGET IMPACT.
UM, BUT, UH, AS I'M SURE YOU'RE ALSO AWARE, AS PART OF THE, UH, THE BOND FRAMEWORK DECISION TREE THAT THE MAYOR BROUGHT FORWARD, UM, THERE WOULD BE A COMPONENT FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO MAKE DECISIONS ON REC OR RECOMMENDATIONS ON PROJECTS THAT IF THEY HAVE AN OPERATING IMPACT, THEN THEY KNOW THAT AND THEY WILL, THEY'LL DEAL WITH THAT, UM, AS OPPOSED TO HAVE, UH, STAFF HAS TO FIGURE IT OUT.
UH, SO BOTTOM LINE, UH, WE WOULD INCORPORATE THAT INTO THE PROCESS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
THERE'S A FIVE YEAR FORECAST PROCESS THAT EVERY DEPARTMENT GOES THROUGH EACH SPRING.
UH, SO WE WOULD INCORPORATE, UH, THOSE DOLLARS AND FTES WITH WITHIN THAT PROCESS ACCORDINGLY.
BUT I CAN'T MAKE A GUARANTEE OF FINAL APPROVAL OF, OF THE FUNDS.
SO ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.
SO AT THIS TIME WE COULD TAKE UP THE PARKS AND OPEN SPACE WORKING GROUP ITEM.
WE HAVE 17 MINUTES LEFT TO DO THAT AND DISCUSS ANY NECESSARY REVISIONS TO THE WORK PLAN.
UM, OR WE SHOULD JUST WAIT ON PARKS AND OPEN SPACE AND DO THAT IN TANDEM WITH, UH, STORM WATER AT THE NEXT MEETING.
[5. Approve any necessary revisions to the work plan resulting from the January 26 meeting cancellation.]
SO IT IT, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER FIVE, WHICH IS THE SCHEDULE, UH, APPROVE ANY NECESSARY REVISIONS TO THE WORK PLAN RESULTING FROM THE JANUARY 26TH MEETING CANCELLATION.SO THAT WORK PLAN HAD US DOING, UH, TODAY WE WOULD'VE BEEN DONE WITH TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENTS IN FACILITIES AND PARKLAND.
WE CAN UH, NOT TAKE UP PARKLAND TODAY AND TAKE UP PARKLAND AND STORMWATER ON THE 23RD.
IT SEEMED LIKE TWO PER MEETING, UH, WORKED TODAY.
BUT I WILL SAY THAT WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A LOT ON THE AGENDA OTHER THAN THESE THINGS.
SO WE PROBABLY WILL WORK THROUGH THEM IN A QUICKER PACE I WOULD SAY.
SO WE COULD POTENTIALLY TAKE UP THE LAST THREE IN THE NEXT MEETING.
THAT WOULD BE MOVING UP AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO THE 23RD.
IS THERE SOMEONE IN HERE ON THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING WORKING GROUP CHAIR ONLINE? ANYBODY FROM AFFORDABLE HOUSING? WELL, RACHEL STONE IS THE CHAIR.
ARE YOU STILL WITH US? I DON'T THINK SHE IS.
ANYBODY ON THAT COMMITTEE CAN GIVE US AN IDEA OF WHERE YOU ARE WITH YOUR WORKING GROUP RECOMMENDATIONS? I'M ON THE COMMITTEE BUT I DON'T KNOW
WELL I DON'T WANNA MOVE THEM UP A WEEK WITHOUT SOMEONE FROM THAT COMMITTEE BEING HERE TO ENGAGE IN A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHETHER THAT'S GONNA BE WORKABLE.
SO, UM, ANYBODY HAVE SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO HANDLE THE NEXT TWO MEETINGS? YEP, GO FOR IT.
I I WAS JUST GONNA SUGGEST, I MEAN IT SOUNDS LIKE THE, THE TERMINAL SIZES OF EACH OF THE PACKAGES IS LIKE KIND OF THE, UH, OPEN ISSUE.
UH, SO WE COULD DISCUSS LIKE HOW TO, YOU KNOW, FRAMEWORK FOR HOW TO GO BACK TO OUR WORKING GROUPS AND AGREE UPON SIZES FOR, FOR PACKAGES I THINK WOULD BE HELPFUL IF THERE WAS A COHESIVE APPROACH ACROSS THE, UH, ONES WE'VE HEARD FROM ALL THE INITIAL ONES.
LUKE, YOU HAVE A THOUGHT? UH, I WAS JUST GONNA ASK, UH, ARE WHEN ARE, IS THE UH, CITY STAFF GONNA PRESENT THEIR FULL PACKAGE AND, AND EXPLAIN THE RATIONALE BEHIND THEIR DECISIONS, WHICH I THINK WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL FOR THE WORKING GROUPS AND THE DECISION ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY TO PUT TOWARDS EACH.
[01:40:01]
WHENEVER IT MAKES SENSE TO THE GROUP.THAT WOULD BE BEFORE LIKE, OR AFTER WE'VE HEARD FROM ALL THE WORKING GROUPS.
DOES IT MATTER? UH, UM, I FEEL LIKE BEFORE THE WORKING GROUPS WOULD BE HELPFUL 'CAUSE THEN WE CAN ASK MORE INFORMED QUESTIONS OF THE WORKING GROUPS.
I WAS GONNA SUGGEST THAT EITHER THE MARCH 23RD OR THE APRIL AD, LIKE A, LIKE IF WE WANT PEOPLE TO, IF WE'RE ASKING WORKING GROUPS TO RESHAPE THE RECOMMENDATIONS, I THINK WE SHOULD COME BACK LIKE WHERE THEY COULD JUST LIKE PRESENT AN UPDATED SURE.
I WAS THINKING THE 23RD IF WE GET ALL OF THEM DONE BY THE NINTH.
I DUNNO IF THAT'S TOO EARLY, BUT JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT ON SOMEONE'S AGENDA.
NO, I I HAD NOTED LIKE THE MARCH 23RD, APRIL 13TH, APRIL 27TH MEETINGS.
THOSE ARE WHERE WE'RE GONNA, I THINK GONNA BE ULTIMATELY GETTING TO AN AGREEMENT ON WHAT OUR RECOMMENDATIONS LOOK LIKE.
BUT THOSE APRIL MEETINGS IN THE LAST MARCH MEETING WOULD BE WHERE YOU COME BACK AND HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS AND D DRILL DOWN AND HEAR BACK FROM THE WORKING GROUPS WHEN THEY'VE GONE BACK AND DONE THEIR UM, YOU KNOW, I GUESS CUTTING
UM, BUT I WANNA KIND OF JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT FROM LUKE'S, UH, COMMENT ABOUT WHERE IT MIGHT MAKE THE MOST SENSE TO BRING STAFF BACK.
I'M HAPPY TO ASK THEM TO COME TO THE, TO THE 23RD MEETING.
AND I, IF I'M UNDERSTANDING THE IDEA IS WE WANNA HEAR FROM THEM AS TO HOW THEY MADE THE DECISIONS THEY MADE IN THEIR MOST RECENT OKAY.
MY ONLY THING ABOUT THAT, AND I'M SORRY NOT TO BE A STICK, I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM HOUSING BEFORE WE HEAR FROM THE STAFF WHO DIDN'T PUT HOUSING ON THE RECOMMENDATION.
THAT'S JUST MY PERSONAL OPINION 'CAUSE I FEEL LIKE I'M, WE, WE WON'T HAVE AS ROBUST A CONVERSATION.
SO IT WOULD BE NICE IF HOUSING COULD PRESENT AT THE NEXT MEETING.
SO I'M JUST WONDERING IF WE REACH OUT.
I JUST THINK IT WOULD BE NICE TO HEAR FROM HOUSING BEFORE THE CITY PRESENTS.
UH, I WILL TALK TO RACHEL AND MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN DO THAT.
I'M GONNA TENTATIVELY PUT FOR THE 23RD PARKLAND STORM WATER AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND IF I HEAR FROM DAVE THAT THAT DOESN'T WORK, WE'LL MOVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING BACK TO THE NINTH AND HAVE STAFF COME IN ON THE NINTH.
MAYBE THAT'S NOT, THAT'S MY SUGGESTION FOR NOW.
I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF GETTING THEM ALL DONE SO THAT WE CAN KIND OF HAVE EVERYTHING THAT THE GROUPS ARE THINKING OUT IN, ON THE TABLE TOGETHER.
UM, I AM JUST WONDERING, I DON'T, DON'T SHOOT ME, UH, IF WE COULD JUST STAY LIKE AN EXTRA 10 MINUTES SO WE CAN GET THE PARKS PRESENTATION DONE TONIGHT.
I'VE ALREADY MISSED BEDTIME WITH MY KIDS, SO YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE UH, MORE THAN 10 MINUTES LEFT ON THE UH, YEAH, WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO IT.
SO LET, LET'S, LET'S, UM, LET'S TAKE A QUICK, UH, SO THE, SO THE PLAN WOULD BE TO ADJUST THE BIF WORKING PLAN, WORK PLAN TO HEAR FROM PARK, UH, TO HEAR FROM STORMWATER AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON THE 23RD AND A STAFF PRESENTATION ON THE NINTH.
IS IT POSSIBLE THAT WE COULD ASK THE STAFF TO ALSO PRESENT? IT SEEMS LIKE WE COULD GET THROUGH TWO WORKING GROUPS AND A STAFF PRESENTATION NEXT MEETING.
STAFF PRESENTATION ON THE 23RD.
MARCUS ISN'T MAKING EYE CONTACT.
I CAN, I WILL ASK THEM IF THAT WORKS FOR THEM, BUT LET'S TRY FOR THAT.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THOSE CHANGES TO THE WORK PLAN.
AND RAISE YOUR HAND PLEASE IF YOU'RE ON CAMERA.
ALL OPPOSED, ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE CHANGES TO THE WORK PLAN ARE ADOPTED.
[8. Update from Parkland and Open Space Working Group regarding initial draft recommendation.]
UH, RICH, PLEASE TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, UPDATE FROM PARKLAND AND OPEN SPACE WORKING GROUP.WE'LL JUST GO TO THE SECOND PAGE.
ALRIGHT, SO, UM, THIS IS LOOKING, THERE WE GO.
SO ALL THE INFORMATION WE BROUGHT IN, JUST, I'M GONNA JUST GO OVER IT REALLY QUICK.
EVERYTHING THAT YOU'LL HAVE SEEN ELSEWHERE, COMMUNITY INPUT DEPARTMENTS
[01:45:01]
REPORTS, THEIR INFORMATION PRESENTATION, ALL THE INPUT AS WELL AS CAPITAL LABOR SERVICES ENGINEERING, UH, FOCUSED INPUT IN TOTAL.THERE'S THE 56 PROJECTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS.
AND SO WE DIDN'T BREAK OUT ALL THE DIFFERENT PROJECTS, BUT WE DO HAVE IT AVAILABLE AND YOU'VE SEEN MANY OF THOSE WITHIN THE CAPITAL LABOR SERVICES, UH, EXCEL SPREADSHEET WITH EXCEPTION OF THE ONES WE'VE ADDED THAT CAME FROM THE PUBLIC.
AND SO THE, ALL THOSE WENT THROUGH THE SCORING CRITERIA ON THE RUBRIC.
UM, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THE EXCEL SPREADSHEET ROSE A ROBUST AND CHALLENGING FOR EVERYBODY.
SO KUDOS TO EVERYBODY WHO, WHO GOT IT DONE.
UM, WE FOCUSED AND WE HAD A DIFFERENT APPROACH THAN WHAT WE SAW.
WE REALLY, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE CAME IN AS WE KNEW IT WAS A $700 MILLION, $750 MILLION BOND.
WE NEED TO REALLY FOCUS ON THE, THE PRIORITIES, UM, AND THEN MAYBE ABLE TO ADD THE WISHLIST ITEMS LATER TO THOSE PRIORITIES.
AND WE KNOW THEY, THEY ARE WANT TO BE CLEAR.
UH, FOR ANYBODY WHO'S LISTENING, THEY DON'T SEE THEIR PROJECT ON HERE.
THIS IS PAINFUL AND IT'S PAINFUL FOR ANY OF THESE PROGRAMS. WHAT ANY OF THESE WORKING GROUPS.
UM, WE REALIZE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE LIVES OF OUR CITIZENS AND YOU KNOW, HOW THEY ENGAGE WITH PUBLIC SPACES AND HOW WE UPLIFT LIVES.
SO WE SEE THAT, WE HEAR THAT AND IT STRESSES US OUT.
UM, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE TOOK ON.
THE OTHER THING WE'RE LOOKING AT IS THAT CREDIT RATING AND MAKING SURE THAT WE DON'T COST THE CITY MORE MONEY FOR BORROWING TO BORROW MONEY.
UM, AND THEN GOING BACK TO THE ENTIRE BOND PROGRAM.
SO WE WERE REALLY IMPRESSED WITH, YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE THAT WITH THE DEPARTMENT'S LIST, UM, THEY REALLY HAD ALREADY CUT IT PRETTY TO THE BONES.
UM, HAVING BEEN FORMER VICE CHAIR OF THE PARKS BOARD FOR A A LONG TIME, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE HAVE OVER PROBABLY $3 BILLION WITH THE NEED WITHIN THE PARK AND RECREATION SYSTEM.
AND THAT'S WHAT UPLIFTS THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH SOCIAL, MENTAL AND PHYSICAL, UH, WELLBEING AS WE SAW PRIMARILY THROUGH, UM, THE PANDEMIC.
BUT WHEN WE WENT THROUGH THIS ON THE SCORING, WE LOOKED AT THREE PRIORITY LEVELS, UM, OF THE DEPARTMENT AND THEN WE GAUGED THAT.
AND SO WHAT YOU'LL FIND IS THE FIRST ONE IS BUILDING RENOVATION REPLACEMENT AND YOUR, THE MAINTENANCE CENTERS.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE SOME MAINTENANCE FACILITIES THAT ARE IN DIRE NEED.
UM, THIS IS GOING TO OFFSET WHAT WE'LL BE RECEIVING POTENTIALLY FROM, UM, AGREEMENTS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE.
SO THE CITY IS WORKING ON, AND SO THE APARTMENT REQUESTED 85 MILLION, BUT IT'S NOT LIMITED TO THAT.
AND SO WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THE THINKING IN TERMS OF THE CENTRAL MAINTENANCE COMPLEX, THE NORTH GROUNDS MAINTENANCE FACILITY COMPLEX, A DA IMPROVEMENTS, AND THEN RESTROOM RENOVATIONS THROUGHOUT KIND OF PULLING THAT ALL THE WAY THROUGH THAT WE HAD SAW FROM THE OTHER PROGRAMS WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT REST, UH, RESTROOM RENOVATIONS.
AND THEN THE NEXT ITEM IS THE PARKLAND ACQUISITION PROGRAM.
UNDERSTANDING THAT WE, YOU KNOW, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT HAS THE ABILITY AND REALLY THE NEED TO DO AN EXCESS OF $20 MILLION A YEAR.
IT'S WHAT'S BEEN DOING TRADITIONALLY FOR A LONG TIME IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE, THE GROWTH OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THEN THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED FROM HAVING PARK SPACE HAS THAT HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY AND ACCESSIBILITY.
NATIONALLY, WE DON'T SCORE PARTICULARLY WELL AS FAR AS ACCESS TO 10 MIN UH, 10 MINUTE WALK TO A PARK.
UM, AND SO THIS WAS TRYING TO CONTINUE TO, TO CLEAR THAT GAP AS WELL AS WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT LINEAR PARK SYSTEMS IN OUR TRAIL SYSTEMS AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WE HAD THAT CONNECTIVITY.
AND SO THE, THE GROUP HAD DECIDED $55 MILLION, IT'S ONLY GONNA TAKE US FOR LESS THAN THREE YEARS, WHAT WE WOULD NORMALLY DO AT THE $20 MILLION.
BUT IT WAS SOMETHING TO REALLY FIT THAT CONNECTIVE TISSUE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, UM, WITHIN OUR PARK SYSTEM.
AND THEN WITH THE AQUATICS, YOU KNOW, THE NEED IS GREAT.
UM, HAVING SERVED ON THE, THE 2018 OR 2019 AQUATICS MASTER PLAN, WE HAVEN'T MADE MUCH HEADWAY.
UH, MATTER OF FACT, WE ARE FIVE POOLS LESS TODAY THAN WE WERE IN 1994, UM, AS FAR AS AN AQUATIC SYSTEM.
BUT NONETHELESS, UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE LIMITED MONEY AND SO PRIORITIZING POOLS THAT WOULD LIKELY CLOSE DOWN THAT WOULD FAIL, UM, OVER THE NEXT SIX YEARS.
AND SO THAT'S GARRISON POOL, BIG STACY POOL.
UM, YOU'LL BE HAPPY TO KNOW THAT BIG STACY POOL IS A NATURALLY HEATED SPRING AS, UM, OUR TASK FORCE MEMBER HAYDEN WALKER HAD SUGGESTED AND I HAD FORGOTTEN.
AND SO THIS IS THE GOAL IS TO MAKE THIS SO IT, IT CAN GO BACK TO A NATURALLY HEATED SPRING VERSUS IT'S RIGHT NOW BEING UTILIZED.
UM, IT'S BEING AUGMENTED WITH, WITH ELECTRIC HEATING.
SO, BUT KEEPING THOSE FROM FAILING AND THEN HAVING SOME ADDITIONAL MONEY IS LEFT OVER TO BE ABLE TO KEEP OUR AQUATIC SYSTEM IN PLACE.
[01:50:01]
IS, AND SO INSTEAD OF THE $60 MILLION WENT TO 35 AND THAT WILL HOPEFULLY MINIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF POOLS BEING CLOSED.BUT EVEN AT THE 35 MILLION IT IS, UH, JUST TO ALERT THE PUBLIC, UM, THERE IS STILL A HIGH LIKELIHOOD THAT A POOL WILL PERMANENTLY CLOSE DURING THE NEXT SIX YEARS.
PRIORITY THREE PARKLAND INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM, UM, RECOMMENDATION BY THE DEPARTMENT.
THE DEPARTMENT REQUEST WAS 40.
WE WENT TO 15 MILLION IN PARKLAND INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM.
THAT IS, UM, FOR WHAT WE WERE LOOKING AT IS THE ALL ABILITIES PARK TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT CONTRIBUTION TO GO TO THAT AS WELL AS WILLIAMSON CREEK TRAIL THAT OUR CONTRIBUTION TO GO TO THAT ELECTRIFICATION FOR RESILIENCY, UH, PLAY SCAPE REPLACEMENTS.
WE WORK, WE RANK, UM, AMONG THE POOREST TOP 100 CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES AS FAR AS OUR PLAY SCAPES AND AVAILABILITY OF PLAY SCAPES.
AND THEN, UM, ALSO VARIOUS CONNECTIONS TO URBAN TRAILS AND PLAN TRAIL CORRIDORS.
SO IF WE ADDED ALTAS UP TO 17 MILLION, SO WE'RE STILL COMING IN, UM, AT 15 MILLION.
AND THEN FOR THE REST, UNFORTUNATELY, UM, THIS IS WHERE AGAIN, IT GOES PAIN FOR US PARKLAND IMPROVEMENTS DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE DON'T THINK THAT THEY'RE NEEDED AND THAT THEY'RE WELL DESERVED.
AND THERE'S COMMUNITY, THERE'S COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN WAITING, UM, LIKE WALTER E. LONG SPECIFICALLY FOR, YOU KNOW, CLOSE TO 60 YEARS.
UM, IT'S JUST, IT'S NOT THIS BOND, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S THE REAL CHALLENGE.
IT'S SOME COMPELLING TESTIMONY COMING FROM THE PUBLIC.
UM, AGAIN, MONEY IS NOT THERE.
IF WE'RE ABLE TO FIND MONEY, THESE WOULD BE THE AREAS IN WHICH WE WOULD LIKE TO FIND IT.
GOING BACK TO THE, GOING TO THE FOLLOWING SLIDE, THE LAST SLIDE, WHEN WE LOOK AS WE MOVE FORWARD, AND THIS IS WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW FOR TODAY, AGAIN, IT WAS A VERY LEAN AND MEAN, UH, BOND PROGRAM.
SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, IS A LITTLE EMBARRASSING FOR A PARK PARKS GUIDE TO PRESENT.
BUT WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT OTHER OPPORTUNITIES, POLICIES AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES, UH, FOR THESE PARK SYSTEMS, INCLUDING ENERGY SAVINGS, PERFORMANCE CONTRACTING, CONSU, LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, THE, THE EXPANSION OF THEIR CONCESSIONS.
LOOKING AT THE EXPANSION OF OUR PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, LOOKING AT THE, WHICH IS REALLY, I SHOULD SAY PHILANTHROPIC PARTNERSHIPS NEED CLEAR 'CAUSE I, I DON'T NEED THAT.
AND THEN THE OTHER PART IS, YOU KNOW, WORKING FOR NONPROFITS.
LOOK AT LEVERAGING CARBON CREDITS AND SEE HOW WE CAN EXPAND UPON THAT, THE GREAT WORK THAT ORGANIZATIONS LIKE TREE FOLKS IS DOING.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE LAST 90 SECONDS.
QUESTIONS FOR RICH AND THE WORKING GROUP FOR PARKLAND.
UM, WELL IT'S NOT REALLY A QUESTION.
I DON'T REALLY HAVE A QUESTION, BUT I SEE THAT THE CITY'S INITIAL BOND REPLACEMENT, I MEAN BOND RECOMMENDATION INCLUDED 10 MILLION FOR SENIOR REC.
AND I KNOW AT LEAST FROM MY PERSPECTIVE AND FROM A LOT OF THE STORIES THAT WE HEARD, I MEAN LIKE I WOULD REALLY HOPE THAT THE SENIORS CENTER OF SOME KIND WOULD BE IN THERE.
SO I JUST KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW FEW PEOPLE FEEL REALLY STRONGLY ABOUT IT, BUT I DO THINK THERE ARE A COUPLE OF GROUPS THAT WE HAVE HEARD A LOT FROM.
AND SO I WOULD LIKE MORE EXPLANATION AS TO WHY WE DON'T WANT TO GIVE THEM ANY MONEY.
WE, WE WANT TO, IT'S NOT THAT WE DON'T, IT WAS REALLY, WE ARE HEARING THE MESSAGE AS FAR AS WE, YOU KNOW, A REAL LIMIT AS FAR AS THE TOTAL BOND PROGRAM.
I THINK THIS, THAT WOULD BE ONE GROUP AMONG A FEW OTHERS THAT WOULD BE PRIORITY CONVERSATIONS.
IF WE WERE ABLE TO FIND ADDITIONAL MONIES, WE REALLY WENT TO CRITICAL NEEDS.
YEAH, I THINK, I MEAN, I MEAN I THINK THAT'S WHERE IT WILL BE HARDER.
I FEEL LIKE THE CITY'S RECOMMENDATION FEEL LIKE, WHILE I THINK SOME OF THE CITY'S RECOMMENDATIONS AREN'T ALIGNED TO WHAT WE'VE HEARD, I DO FEEL LIKE, I MEAN, I THINK THIS IS WHAT I MEAN ABOUT, WE DIDN'T REALLY LOOK AT CITY'S RECOMMENDATIONS.
YEAH, IT WAS A DATA POINT, BUT IT WAS BASED UPON OUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE SYSTEM.
WELL, WELL LET ME FINISH MY SENTENCE.
I WAS SAYING THIS CITY'S RECOMMENDATION FILL ALIGNED TO WHAT THE SMALL THINGS THAT WE'VE HEARD.
BUT SO ONCE AGAIN, LIKE I'M NOT IN THE WORKING GROUP SO I DON'T KNOW THE LEVEL OF DETAIL, BUT I THINK FOR THIS ONE WE JUST WANT A LITTLE BIT MORE UNDERSTANDING.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WOULD BE DONE JUST TO JUST, 'CAUSE WE'VE HEARD A LOT FOR THIS ONE, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? YEAH, RIGHT.
I MEAN, AGAIN, IT'S JUST REALLY ABOUT WHERE YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE MONIES.
IF WE CAN FIND ADDITIONAL MONIES, WE'D LOVE TO PUT IT THERE.
OTHER QUESTIONS FOR RICH TINA? YEAH.
SO IN YOUR IT'S, AND IT IS HARD.
IT IS, IT'S BEEN HARD IN ALL OF OUR WORKING GROUPS.
THE, AND SO LIKE THE SENIOR CENTER, TO YOUR POINT THERE, IT MIGHT, IS IT POSSIBLE THAT IT WOULD FALL UNDER ANY OF THE OTHER PRIORITIES OR THAT IT WOULD FALL UNDER ONE OF THE COLONY PARK ITEMS? LIKE IS THERE A WAY THAT WE CAN JUST START TO SYNERGIZE OUR THINKING AROUND MULTIPLE USE OF A FACILITY RATHER THAN JUST, JUST A LIBRARY OR JUST A HEALTH CENTER?
[01:55:01]
I MEAN, ON THIS, IT, IT'S INTERESTING ON THIS PARTICULAR CASE.SO YEAH, MULTI-PURPOSE FACILITIES IS REALLY WHAT YOU WANT FOR ACTIVE AND PASSIVE RECREATION.
YOU WANT SOMETHING THAT'S LIVABLE AND AND BREATHABLE THROUGHOUT THE, THE VERY, VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING TO LATE AT NIGHT WHEN PEOPLE ARE TURNING IT OFF.
YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HEARD PARTICULARLY FROM OUR SENIORS IS THEY WANTED A SINGLE SENIOR, UH, SENIOR SPACE.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT REALLY IN PARK AND RECREATION PROGRAMMING THAT WE'RE PROMOTING THESE DAYS, WE'RE REALLY PROMOTING ROBUST AREA, UM, PROGRAMMING THAT ARE UTILIZED DIFFERENTLY DURING THE DAY AND IN THE EVENING.
UM, RIGHT NOW THEIR SPACES ARE PRETTY MUCH UTILIZED, SO YOU'D HAVE TO DO AN EXPANSION AND YOU THAT COULD BE DONE.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S ACTUALLY REALLY HELPFUL WHAT YOU JUST SHARED.
SO SOME OF THOSE WOULD BE ABLE TO BE USED FOR SENIOR SPACES DURING THE DAY, BUT HAVE DIFFERENT, LIKE THE MULTI-USE IDEA.
I THINK THAT ACTUALLY A LOT OF THE FOLKS THAT HAVE COME TO SPEAK TO US, THEY'VE BEEN, I THINK USING THE GUS GARCIA REC CENTER.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE IS A SPACE THAT KIND OF FITS IN WITH THIS MULTI-USE IDEA.
AND THERE WAS I THINK SOME DISSATISFACTION WITH THAT AND WANTING THEIR OWN KIND OF DEDICATED SPACE WHERE THEY COULD LEAVE THEIR THINGS OUT.
YOU KNOW, THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS I REMEMBER, WHICH SOUNDS NICE, YOU KNOW.
UM, AGAIN, I THINK IT WAS AROUND CRITICAL VERSUS LIKE THERE IS A SPACE FOR, FOR THEM TO GO AND, AND HAVE THAT AND IT'S STORAGE IS OFTEN A, A REAL CHALLENGE WITH ANY OF THE RECREATION CENTERS, PARTICULARLY RELATING TO SENIORS.
AND SO IF YOU HAVE THOSE SORT OF FACILITIES, IT COULD BE SOMETHING INVESTIGATING THAT WHERE YOU'RE CREATING THERE, THERE'S, YOU JUST HAVE TO, WE'D HAVE TO GO THROUGH AND GET A DESIGNER IN IN, IN WELL, OR, OR A FURNITURE, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY FROM THE FURNITURE COMPANY AS WELL.
BUT KIND OF LIKE TO WHAT TINA'S SAYING IS WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO PROVIDE SOME RESOURCES FOR SENIORS IN A MULTI-USE CAPACITY.
SO I DO THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE JUST GONNA HAVE TO TEASE OUT.
RIGHT? WE'RE NOT SAYING NO, WE DON'T WANT FACILITIES FOR JUST LIKE SOLELY FOR SENIORS, BUT THEY POTENTIALLY WOULD BE BENEFICIARIES OF THIS.
SO I JUST THINK WE HAVE TO MAKE THAT CLEAR.
YEAH, I MEAN IT'S CHALLENGING FOR SENIORS DURING THE SUMMER TIMES WHEN YOU'RE DOING SUMMER, UM, YOUR SUMMER CAMPS, YOUR OUT SCHOOL TIME ACTIVITIES, AND SAME THING WITH YOUR RECREATION CENTERS DURING THE, THE SCHOOL YEAR WHEN YOU'RE DOING A, UM, OUT SCHOOL TIME ACTIVITIES DURING THE AFTER SCHOOL.
SO THOSE ARE REAL CHALLENGES THAT SENIORS FACE.
ONE, ONE THING I'LL MENTION IN OUR DISCUSSIONS IN THAT WORKING GROUP WAS FOCUSING UNDERSTANDING THE CITY'S, UM, OM UH, CONCERNS ABOUT, SO WE FOCUSED ON FIXING WHAT WE'VE GOT AS OPPOSED TO BUILDING ANYTHING NEW, SORT OF, YOU KNOW, IT'D BE GREAT IF WE COULD BUILD NEW, WE'RE JUST NOT IN THAT FINANCIAL, SO INVEST IN THE THINGS WE HAVE AND MAKE THE BATHROOMS WORK THAT WE HAVE
SO THAT WAS JUST SORT OF THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND OUR, UM, FEEL, OUR OUR THINKING ON, ON HOW WE PRIORITIZED.
UM, CHARLES, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY? BUT THAT'S WHERE THE AFFORDABILITY AND THE EQUITY FLASH.
IF WE ONLY FOCUS ON WHAT WE'VE GOT THEN WE'RE CONTINUING TO PROVIDE A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF SERVICE IN THE CENTRAL CITY THAN IN THE OUTLYING AREAS.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.
THAT'S A GREAT POINT, CHARLES.
YEAH, I WANNA SAY, UM, I WAS IN AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION WITH THE PERSON BECAUSE I WAS SAYING WE NEED A MEETING SPACE AND IT'S MOSTLY FOR OLDER PEOPLE AND THE RESPONSE THAT I GOT WAS, WELL, WE'VE, IT'S ALREADY BOOKED FOR YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE DAY STUFF AND SCHOOL STUFF AND WHATEVER.
AND I'M LIKE, SO WHO MADE THAT DECISION? SO IT WAS THE SAY DECIDED THAT I GUESS STAFF MADE THAT DECISION BECAUSE OF THE NEEDS OF SCHOOL KIDS AND YOUNGER KIDS OR AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING AND SO FORTH.
AND MY THOUGHT WAS, THE REASON Y'ALL HAVE THIS BUILDING IN THE FIRST PLACE IS BECAUSE OF PEOPLE LIKE ME ADVOCATING FOR THIS BUILDING AND NOW YOU'RE KICKING ME OUT.
SO THE REASON A LOT OF STUFF THAT WE HAVE IS BECAUSE THOSE OF US IN THE, YOU KNOW, IN THE PAST HAVE ADVOCATED FOR THAT.
AND NOW THAT WE NEED IT AND WE ARE NEEDING EQUAL ACCESS JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.
AND I'M TALKING ABOUT SENIOR POPULATION AND THAT POPULATION IS GROWING VERY RAPIDLY IN THE CITY.
SO I THINK THAT TALK TALKS INTO THE EQUITY PIECE BECAUSE IF YOU ISOLATE PEOPLE AND THAT GIVES THEM NO INCENTIVE TO, YOU KNOW, THAT MARGINALIZES THEIR OPPORTUNITIES TO SOCIALIZE, TO GET OUT, TO ENGAGE AND STAY MENTALLY ACTIVE.
[02:00:01]
ADVOCATE FOR SOME SORT OF SENIOR TYPE SERVICES THAT NEED TO BE INCLUDED.ANY OTHER COMMENTS? HEARING NONE.
FINAL ITEM IS FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS THAT WE HAVEN'T ALREADY DISCUSSED TO ADD TO THE AGENDAS.
ANYBODY HAVE ANY FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS? HEARING NONE, UH, I WILL ADJOURN THE MEETING IF THERE'S NO, UH, OBJECTION.